As we previously reported, the WBC and IBF welterweight world champion, American Errol Spence, was forced to abandon the fight with the legendary Filipino Manny Pacquiao. The US representative commented on the current situation.
WBC, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence is very disappointed with the unexpected injury that forced him to withdraw from a scheduled pay-per-view fight with eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao.
They were set to collide on Saturday, August 21 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
However, it was announced on Tuesday that Spence withdrew due to a retinal tear in his left eye.
The injury was discovered on Monday, during a pre-fight medical examination by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in Las Vegas.
Spence flew back home to Dallas, Texas on Tuesday and will have surgery to repair the tear on Wednesday. Based on the indications from his team, Spence is expected to make a full recovery and return to the ring.
“I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao on August 21,’’ Spence said.
“I was excited about the fight and the event. Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery on it ASAP and that there was no way I could fight with my eye in that condition. I’d like to apologize to everyone. You know I’ll be back soon. We’ve come back from worse.’’
Spence sustained injuries in a serious car accident back in 2019. He finally returned to the ring in December 2020, winning a dominant twelve round unanimous decision over Danny Garcia.
The August card will still move forward, with Spence being replaced in the main event by WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas. The Cuban boxer was scheduled to appear in the co-feature against Fabian Maidana, who himself was about to withdrew from the event after suffering a bad cut above his eye from a sparring session.