Errol Spence Jr. Says He Would’ve Gone Blind Had He Fought Manny Pacquiao

Errol Spence Jr. has no regrets about pulling out of his bout against Manny Pacquiao last summer.

Spence Jr. was supposed to box Pacquiao in the main event of a pay-per-view bout in Las Vegas on August 21. Yet, as he was doing medicals, Spence Jr. was pulled from the fight due to an issue with his eye and now he says had he fought, he likely would’ve gone blind.

“I don’t regret it at all,” Spence told reporters during a recent media workout, of losing out on a Pacquiao fight that never made its way back around (via Boxingscene). “Everything happens for a reason. If I would’ve fought him, I probably would have been blind in my eye and lost my career. Everything happens for a reason. I just got to take the punches and roll with it.”

Yordenis Ugas ended up replacing Spence Jr. and beat Pacquiao which has since earned him the fight with Spence Jr. Ugas and Spence Jr. will now fight on April 16 in a pay-per-view event from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Errol Spence Jr. (27-0) made his return in December of 2020 with a decision win over Danny Garcia, it was his first fight since his horrific car crash. He’s the current WBC and IBF welterweight title while he will also fight for the WBA (Super) welterweight title against Ugas which is a fight he is excited for.

“I’ve been looking forward [to this fight] since I dropped out of the Pacquiao fight,” insisted Spence, who last fought in a December 2020 points win over former two-division titlist Danny Garcia at this very venue. “I knew I’d be looking at either Pacquiao or Ugas. It’s Ugas now.”

Who do you think will win, Errol Spence Jr. or Yordenis Ugas?