Manny Pacquiao Seeks January 2022 Rematch with Ugas, Citing Leg Cramps
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (August 26th, 2021)– Citing leg cramps which he claims limited his mobility in what should have otherwise been an easier fight, Manny Pacquiao is considering stepping back into the boxing ring in January 2022 in Las Vegas for a rematch with defending World Boxing Association Super World Welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas, who holds the title Pacquiao had when he defeated Keith Thurman. Ugas is open to the immediate rematch proposal.
The original Pacquiao foe, World Welterweight champion, Errol Spence Jr., is recovering from eye surgery. Another World Welterweight champion, Terence (Bud) Crawford is in negotiations to defend his version of the world title against Shawn Porter.
The southpaw Pacquiao, at age 42, appeared unable to shake off two years of ring rust during the Coronavirus Pandemic, after defeating then World Boxing Association Super World Welterweight champion Keith Thurman in Las Vegas in July 2019.
Talking to The Athletic 72 hours after losing, with a yellowed swollen right eye and facial bruises, Pacquiao stated “In my entire career, Ugas was one of the easiest opponents (I have ever had to face),” in an interview at his Los Angeles home. “He only had one style and I should’ve been able to easily move away. You’ve seen how I have moved in my fights (previously) before (inside the ring). I couldn’t move in this fight (with Ugas). My legs just stopped (providing superior movement).”
Excuses do not cut it. In this reporter’s view, Pacquiao needs an easier tune up bout due to the over two years of inactivity. For Pacquiao, it will be a must win if he fights Ugas again, much like his rematches with Juan Manuel Marquez or Timothy Bradley. It does not appear, even if he defeats Ugas in a rematch, Pacquiao would be game for fighting again after that, owing to his political aspirations forthcoming in the Philippines. Pacquiao is, whether he likes to admit it or not, old. Another viewpoint is Pacquiao simply is older now than when the Pandemic started, and inactivity during the Pandemic has benefited nobody in professional sports, including Pacquiao. Ugas, a former Cuban Olympian, age 35, is no spring chicken either. He is however younger than Pacquiao, and Ugas is hungry. It will take more than hard work and humility due to a loss for Pacquiao to regain his “Eye of the Tiger”. Boxing has to be his priority, and while he is disciplined enough to show up for a bout in condition, the political arena, and now boxing, is Pacquiao’s current priority. This means he is too distracted from boxing to defeat major opponents. His focus has to change.
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