Errol Spence Jr: I’ll retire Manny Pacquiao, still want Terence Crawford fight

Errol Spence Jr is set to defend his WBC and IBF welterweight titles against Manny Pacquiao in a big FOX pay-per-view main event on Aug. 21, and stopped by tonight’s Showtime broadcast in San Antonio to speak with Brian Custer about the fight — and about Terence Crawford.

Spence (27-0, 21 KO) chuckled a bit when he was reminded that the 42-year-old Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KO) said that if he can beat Errol Spence Jr next month, he should be considered the best fighter ever. And the Texan believes that on the other hand, if he beats Pacquiao, it will prove that he is truly the top welterweight today.

He plans to do just that, and doesn’t think Manny will stick around the sport after.

“I think he’ll definitely retire after this fight,” Spence said. “I don’t know (if I’ll stop him), we’ll see. You’ll have to tune in and order!”

Crawford, of course, is still with Top Rank and set to return in October, and going over the years of nothing actually happening between those two is a bit of a chore at this point. But for his side, Spence says he still wants the fight, and that it’s a big reason he’s stuck around at 147.

“I definitely want that fight, and we’ve just got to make it happen,” he said. “It’s for his guys and my guys to talk to each other and see if it can happen. If it can’t happen, I’ve got to move up.”