Renowned trainer Ronnie Shields isn’t expecting Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr 27-0 (21) or Manny Pacquiao 62-7-2 (39) to have an easy night at the office when they meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 21.
Spence, 31, from Desoto, Texas will defend his WBC and IBF welterweight titles against the 42-year-old Filipino Pacquiao in an all-southpaw battle.
Bookmakers have Spence listed as the favourite but Shields sees it as close to an even-money fight.
“I see it as a tough fight for both guys,” Shields said to FightHub. “It’s hard for me to pick a winner in that fight because Pacquiao is a slick, fast, strong guy.
“Errol is a strong guy. He’s a pressure fighter and man, it’s going to be explosive. Whoever has the best game plan is going to win.
“I wouldn’t say younger is always better. Experience is probably the best thing.
“Manny has seen many Errol Spences before, but Spence hasn’t seen any Manny Pacquiaos before. But determination is going to play a big factor in this fight. It’s hard to pick a winner.
“It’s going to be a great fight and a tough fight and I definitely want to be there for it.
Pacquiao will be having his first fight in two years after outpointing previously undefeated American Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman 29-1 (22) to relieve him of the WBA welterweight belt by split decision, but Shields doesn’t read too much into the competitiveness of that bout.
“People seen Keith Thurman do that and he made it a close fight, but he didn’t get the win,” he said.
As for the result of Spence-Pacquiao, Shields said an upset wouldn’t surprise in a fight he sees going to the cards.
“But understand, you’ve got two southpaws fighting each other, so this stance is going to be different,” Shields said.
“I don’t know if [throwing jabs] will be the key to it. I’ve never studied Manny Pacquiao because I never had anybody fighting him.
“So I don’t know if that’s going to be the right thing for Errol to do. I’m sure [Spence’s trainer] Derrick [James] will put together a great game plan that fits him.
“You have to know both guys to say, ‘This will work for this guy,’ but you don’t know what both guys do best.
“Unless you’re in the gym with them all the time, then you can figure something out. It’s hard. For me, it’s going to be a tough fight.
“I see it as a tough fight. Both guys have great chins, so I don’t think it’s going to be a knockout either way.
“I think it’s going to be a close fight. I truly believe that. I will not be shocked if Manny wins. I’m leaning towards Errol Spence, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Manny Pacquiao wins.
“Manny has always done that throughout his whole career, so you’ve got to give him props for that.”
