Pacquiao Still Believes He Would've Beaten Spence: 'Speed Was the Difference'

The fight never materialized, but the boxing legend insists he would have come out on top.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:05pm

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors depicting the raw energy and movement of two boxers engaged in an intense match, with faces and figures dissolving into unrecognizable splatters of paint.An abstract painting captures the explosive speed and power of a hypothetical welterweight title fight between boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr.Las Vegas Today

Manny Pacquiao is still convinced he would have defeated Errol Spence Jr. if their highly anticipated welterweight title fight had taken place as originally scheduled in August 2021. Pacquiao believes his superior speed and ring IQ would have been the difference against the physically imposing Spence, who was forced to withdraw due to a retinal tear just days before the bout. While Spence went on to unify the welterweight titles, Pacquiao's final fight ended in a loss to Yordenis Ugas, a defeat he attributes to pre-fight issues that would not have been a factor against Spence.

Why it matters

This 'what if' scenario between two all-time great welterweights has become a point of debate in the boxing community. Pacquiao's confidence in his ability to overcome Spence's physical advantages speaks to his enduring belief in his skills, even late in his storied career. The fight's cancellation also raises questions about how Pacquiao's legacy might have been impacted had he been able to secure one more signature victory before retiring.

The details

Pacquiao and Spence were originally scheduled to meet on August 21, 2021 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, the bout collapsed just days before fight night when Spence suffered a retinal detachment. In stepped Yordenis Ugas as a late replacement, and Pacquiao went on to lose a unanimous decision in what proved to be the final fight of his illustrious career. Pacquiao later revealed he was 'tight and cramping' and 'could not move' in the Ugas fight, issues he believes would not have been a factor against the physically imposing but slower-handed Spence.

  • The Pacquiao vs. Spence fight was originally scheduled for August 21, 2021.
  • Spence suffered a retinal detachment just days before the scheduled fight date, forcing the bout to be canceled.
  • Pacquiao faced Yordenis Ugas instead, losing a unanimous decision in what proved to be the final fight of his career.

The players

Manny Pacquiao

A boxing legend and eight-division world champion who was riding a late-career resurgence before his final fight against Yordenis Ugas.

Errol Spence Jr.

The reigning unified welterweight champion who was forced to withdraw from the Pacquiao fight due to a retinal tear, but later went on to unify the titles in dominant fashion.

Yordenis Ugas

The Cuban boxer who stepped in on short notice to face Pacquiao, handing the Filipino icon a unanimous decision loss in his final professional fight.

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What they’re saying

“Of course I wanted to fight him, because I know I can easily beat him.”

— Manny Pacquiao

“[I would have beaten him] with speed. It's not about strength… it's about skills and abilities in the ring and how you move.”

— Manny Pacquiao

“In the Ugas fight, I was tight and cramping and could not move for the first time in my career. It would have been different than the Ugas fight [if I fought Spence].”

— Manny Pacquiao

The takeaway

Pacquiao's confidence in his ability to defeat Spence, even late in his career, speaks to his enduring belief in his skills and ring IQ. While the fight never materialized, the 'what if' scenario has become a point of debate in the boxing community, raising questions about how Pacquiao's legacy might have been impacted had he secured one more signature victory before retiring.