MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao sat at ringside as Errol Spence Jr. clobbered Mikey Garcia for 12 rounds and retained his IBF welterweight crown at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas yesterday.
After his arms were raised in victory, Spence, 29, (25-0 with 21 knockouts) called on Pacquiao, saying it would be “an honor” to fight the Filipino legend.
Pacquiao only had three words to say.
“Yeah, why not?” said the Filipino superstar, who at 40, (61-7-2 with 39 KOs) remains a big draw in the sport that’s still looking for a new face.
Pacquiao is the reigning WBA champion at 147 pounds. His last win against Adrien Broner, a lopsided one, came in July, and sold over 400,000 pay-per-view buys.
A fight with Spence should exceed those numbers.
Pacquiao watched the fight with interest, and flying to Texas from a two-week European vacation with his wife Jinkee, meant that he means business.
The eight-division champion, who’s trying to stretch his good years inside the ring, said he may return to the ring in July, when the Senate is on a long recesss.
“In July,” said the senator.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. was also in the house to watch the fight. For the nth time, he and Pacquiao came face to face but didn’t talk about boxing.