Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao will knock out Errol Spence Jr.

Freddie Roach didn’t hold back when he was asked on the The PBC Podcast to make a prediction for longtime protégé Manny Pacquiao’s pay-per-view fight against welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas:

Pacquiao by knockout.

Roach respects Spence’s power but he believes the IBF and WBC champ is slower and stands more flatfooted than Pacquiao’s last opponent, Keith Thurman, who lost a split decision and his title to the Filipino icon in July 2019.

“He’s probably a better puncher,” said Roach, comparing Spence to Thurman. “… He’s a little bit dangerous. Pacquiao will have to be in and out. He can’t stand and trade with this guy too much. He’ll have to be very selective with what he lands.”

But …

“[Spence] is a little bit slow of foot,” Roach added. “He doesn’t move that well. And his punches aren’t the quickest in the world. … I plan on Manny going in and out before [Spence] even gets started. Once Manny starts landing those combinations [he’ll] get back out of the pocket, in a safe place, and then right back in.

“… A lot of footwork, a lot in and out, a lot of speed. Manny still has all those attributes.”

So the prediction?

“I see a good fight from Manny,” he said. “Again, [Spence] hits hard but he’s a little bit slow. We’ll take advantage of this with his foot speed and hand speed. I honestly think Manny will dominate him and he will knock him out.”