File: Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr. posed for the media after their press conference at Fox Studios on July 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Michael Owens / Getty Images / AFP
MANILA, Philippines: Two-belt champion Earl Spence has no regrets about missing a megafight with Manny Pacquiao.
Spence was forced to withdraw less than two weeks before the fight due to a retinal rupture in his left eye before the two Welterweight stars were due to collide on August 21, 2021.
“I do not regret it at all,” Spence said during a recent media workout.
“Everything happens for a reason. If I fought him, I would probably go blind and lose my career. Everything happens for a reason. I just have to punch and roll with it.”
Spence was replaced by Jordanis Ugas, who stunned Pacquiao with a unanimous victory.
A month later, Pacquiao retired from boxing shortly after announcing his desire to run for president of the Philippines in the 2022 election.
An April 16 merger battle at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, paved the way for Pacquiao’s retirement from the Spence and Ugas deal.
Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), who holds the IBF and WBC belts, has not fought since Danny Garcia took over in December 2020.
“I was just waiting [to this fight] Since I dropped out of the Pacquiao fight, “said Spence.
“I knew I was going to look at Pacquiao or Ugas. It’s ugly now. “
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