Errol Spence Looking To Unify Welterweight Belts, Targets Manny Pacquiao In 2021

Errol Spence Jr., the WBC and IBF welterweight champion, is already setting his sights on a potential unification bout against WBA titleholder Manny Pacquiao in 2021.

The 30-year-old American bares that he would love to get the chance to face Pacquiao, with the Filipino boxing icon already approaching the homestretch of his legendary career.

But before he gets the green light to share the ring with the "Pacman," Spence will first have to successfully defend his titles against Danny Garcia on Dec. 5 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"After this fight, of course, I would like to fight Manny Pacquiao. He's on his way out, so I'd love to have that fight,” Spence told SunSport.

"He's a living legend, and I've never fought someone of that caliber. He's big and not just a boxing star, he's an icon, a mega-star.”

Spence, who is undefeated in 26 professional fights, also believes that headlining an event with the sport's only eight-division world champion could raise his stock as a pugilist.

"That would be different and it would send me somewhere else popularity-wise. Pacquiao has been in the sport 20-something years, he's an icon even outside the sport. Everybody knows who Manny Pacquiao is," he said.

"That would be a great fight for me."

The scheduled 12-round encounter against Garcia will be his first outing since capturing the WBC belt by way of split decision against Shawn Porter in September 2019 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the 41-year-old Pacquiao has remained uncommitted to a comeback since defeating former champion Keith Thurman in July 2019.

He, however, has expressed interest in fighting MMA superstar Conor McGregor for a charity event.

A previous report claimed that Pacquiao may be in danger of losing his WBA title if he pushes through with the McGregor fight – a move that would perhaps shut down a potential showdown against Spence.

"I don't blame him, Manny Pacquiao earned that right (to fight McGregor), Spence stated. "He's earned his right to make his money and fight whoever he wants to fight because he fought whoever was lined up to fight him."

"I'm not mad at it at all, if I was 40-something and was offered that kind of money to fight Conor McGregor, I'd take the fight too, I don't blame him," he added.