FILE – Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines speaks during a press conference after his defeat to Yordenis Ugas of Cuba in the WBA Welterweight Championship boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on August 21, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao is in familiar territory but this time as a promoter and avid boxing fan.
Pacquiao arrived in Las Vegas on Saturday (Manila time) in time for the much-awaited undisputed showdown between welterweight champions Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford at T-Mobile Arena.
The Filipino ring icon, who was one of the hottest tickets in the fight capital of the world during his heyday, will also be at ringside to support his fighter Isaac Cruz.
“IT’S FIGHT DAY! Flew from the Philippines 2 of boxing’s best, Spence vs. Crawford, giving it their all tonight. Excited for my fighter Isaac Cruz in the co-main event and shoutout also to our 4-division world champ @filipinoflash #SpenceCrawford,” Pacquiao, who is set for an exhibition bout against a Muay Thai legend early next year, tweeted on Sunday.
IT’S FIGHT DAY! ???? Flew from the Philippines to witness 2 of boxing’s best, Spence vs. Crawford, giving it their all tonight. Excited for my fighter Isaac Cruz in the co-main event and shoutout also to our 4-division world champ @filipinoflash ???????????????? #SpenceCrawford
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) July 29, 2023
Cruz (23-2, 16KOs), the pride of Mexico City, Mexico, is fighting unbeaten American Giovanni Cabrera in a WBC lightweight title eliminator.
Pacquiao will also be rooting for his compatriot Nonito Donaire, who is gunning for the vacant WBC bantamweight belt against Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago.
Donaire (42-7, 28KOs) is aiming to reclaim the crown he lost in June of last year following a second-round TKO at the hands of Naoya Inoue in their rematch.
A victory by Donaire will also reset his own mark as the oldest bantamweight world champion.
Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division champion, was supposed to fight Spence two years ago before the Long Island, New York native was forced to withdraw due to a retinal tear in his left eye.
Pacquiao ended up facing Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas, who scored a unanimous decision upset.
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