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Ugas versus Pacquiao Las Vegas USA Fox PPV Fight Card Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (August 11th, 2021)– Errol Spence Jr. has a torn left retina, and has not been cleared to defend his portion of the World Welterweight title in the main event on USA Fox Pay-Per-View on Saturday August 21, 2021, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Spence, who currently holds the World Boxing Council and International Box Federation World Welterweight titles, will become a champion in recess after eye surgery until his injury heals. The fate of his WBC and IBF world titles could fall to interim champions, who could become the full champions if the recuperation and recovery of Spence takes one year or longer.
Cuban world champion Yordenis Ugas, the backup opponent training in Las Vegas in event Pacquiao or Spence fell off due to injury, the coronavirus, or any other reason, will now take the place of Spence in the main event. Ugas, 26-4 with 12 knockouts, Miami, Florida by way of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, who won the vacant World Boxing Association World Welterweight championship on September 6, 2020, with a 12 round split decision over Abel Ramos at Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, will now fight the World Boxing Association Super World Welterweight champion, Manny ‘Pac Man’ Pacquiao.
Ugas, age 35, the 2005 Amateur World Lightweight champion, and a 2008 Olympic Lightweight Bronze medalist in Beijing, China, has an even chance against the southpaw Pacquiao, age 42, 69-7-2 with 39 knockouts, General Santos City, Philippines, a six division world champion.
Pacquiao has been out of the ring for over two years, since defeating 29-0 WBA Super World Welterweight champion Keith Thurman by 12 round split decision, after dropping Thurman in the first round on July 20, 2021 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, before the Coronavirus Pandemic hit. Ugas versus Pacquiao could be close, given both combatants won their version of the WBA regular and super world welterweight titles by 12 round split decisions over established world champions defending their titles.
No doubt Pacquiao will be the bookies betting favorite for this bout despite his age, with Spence out of the welterweight picture for an extended period. The winner of this significant WBA world welterweight title bout could get Terence “Bud” Crawford, the World Boxing Organisation World Welterweight champion, in a titular unification bout later in 2021. Pacquiao is favored by 12 round majority decision in what should an interesting and close bout. The big questions, of course, how much does Pacquiao have left in the tank, and how well prepared is backup Ugas to take this bout on short notice despite gym preparations as the backup opponent.
In the preliminary to the main event, Mark Magsayo, 22-0 with 15 knockouts, Metro Manila, Philippines, will fight for the vacant World Boxing Organisation International Featherweight title against former World Boxing Council World Super Bantamweight champion Julio Ceja, 32-4-1 with 28 knockouts, a Mexican fighting out of Palmsdale, California. Ceja last fought in December 2019, when he fought to a 12 round split decision draw with 20-0 Brandon Figueroa for the World Boxing Association World Super Bantamweight title at the MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena. Ceja missed weight, is now moving up in weight class. This bout could be interesting. Magsayo is favored by 12 round split decision, as Ceja has not won a bout since November 2017. Ceja has more experience, but still has a questionable chin. This has the makings of a nasty scrap. In Ceja’s June 2019 bout with Guillermo Rigondeaux at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, both Ceja and Rigondeaux had point deductions for low blows.
Former World Boxing Council World Welterweight southpaw champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, 32-6-3 with 25 knockouts, Ventura, California, age 34, will return to the ring for the first time in three and a half years, against former four division southpaw world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, 36-6-1 with 20 knockouts, age 38, Las Vegas, Nevada. Ortiz last fought in February 2018 when he fought to a 12 round majority draw with Devon Alexander in El Paso, Texas. Starting with a titular loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. at 147 pounds in 2013, Guerrero lost four of six bouts between 2013 and 2017 and retired. Guerrero has won three comeback bouts since then, but has been out of the ring since winning a 10 round decision over Gerald Thomas in September 2019 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Ortiz versus Guerrero is predicted to end in a majority draw, or Ortiz is favored to win by split decision in a bout which could go either way. Any knockdowns could affect scoring in a close bout. Ortiz is four years younger than Guerrero.
While only three bouts are scheduled for the USA Fox PPV telecast, more bouts could be added in the days before the event. Spence versus Pacquiao was supposed to be the feature. Given the resurgence of the coronavirus on the mainland United States, it will be most fortunate for scheduled boxing cards to take place. Anthony Joshua versus Oleksandr Usyk, and Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder, the two world heavyweight championship bouts scheduled, are the mega bouts still to come later in 2021. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez versus Caleb Plant in a super middleweight world title unification bout could also happen if the bout is signed.
MANNY PACQUIAO VS. YORDENIS UGÁS VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
“Ugás is a champion because they gave him my belt. Now, we have to settle it inside of the ring,” – Pacquiao
“I’m fighting for my legacy, and for my country. This is the most important fight of my life,” – Ugás
Eight-Division Champion Manny Pacquiao Takes on WBA Welterweight World Champion Yordenis Ugás Headlining
FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Saturday, August 21 from
(Credit: Premier Boxing Champions; Password: W1Eg&*HL)
LAS VEGAS (August 11, 2021) – Eight-division world champion and Philippine Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and WBA Welterweight World Champion Yordenis Ugás previewed their championship showdown during a virtual press conference on Wednesday before they meet in the FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View main event Saturday, August 21 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ugás steps up to replace Errol Spence Jr. in the main event, as Spence recovers from an eye injury. Ugás had been preparing to make his first title defense in the co-main event and will now face the boxing legend Pacquiao in a career-defining fight, defending the same title that Pacquiao won when he defeated Keith Thurman in his last fight July 2019.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and MP Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through t-mobilearena.com and axs.com.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
MANNY PACQUIAO
“I want to say that I’m praying for Errol to make a fast recovery from his injury. Health is always the priority and the most important thing. I did my best in training and in preparation for this fight, so I wanted to make sure my hard work was not wasted.
“Ugás was ready to fight and challenge me on August 21. So it’s a great thing that I can show off my hard work in the gym when we face each other on fight night.
“I’m not disappointed at all in what happened because my hard work will not be wasted. Ugás stepped up and is bringing his WBA championship into the fight, which I’m excited to fight for.
“I always consider myself a bipartisan boxer. I am happy to fight either right-handed or southpaw fighters. It’s no problem for me at all to switch the styles that I’m going to face.
“What I can say to the fans is that this is definitely not an easy fight. Ugás is a champion because they gave him my belt. Now, we have to settle it inside of the ring. I cannot take him lightly, because he’s the kind of fighter who will take advantage of that.
“I have a lot of people around me that motivate me to win this fight, especially for my family. I’m also very motivated to give the fans a great fight that they’re going to enjoy in the arena or watching on pay-per-view.
“In the end, I want to win the belts. I’m so excited for this championship fight and I don’t care if I’m the challenger or champion coming into it. We’ll see who is the champion after August 21.
“I know that Ugás is also very prepared for his fight because he was going to be on the undercard. If there was no Ugás on the undercard, it’s possible we would have cancelled the fight. It’s a good thing we had another welterweight champion on the card for this scenario that happened.
“The only danger for this fight is the change in stance. Both Spence and Ugás are aggressive fighters, which I like. We can create a lot of great action in the ring that the fans will love.
“I would tell the fans not to miss this fight. This is going to be a really good one. I’m sure that me and Ugás are going to give a fight full of action. I’m excited to see everyone in Las Vegas on August 21.”
YORDENIS UGÁS
“I’m feeling great and super excited to fight on this big stage. I’m ready to go get in the ring on August 21. I couldn’t be more excited for this fight.
“When I got the call that I was going to face one of the best fighters in history, it just pushed my excitement to new highs. I can’t wait to show everyone what I’m capable of.
“I also want to wish Errol Spence Jr. a safe and fast recovery. I hope he gets healthy soon and we see him back in the ring.
“I’m used to taking fights at the last minute. It’s really nothing new to me. Once I knew I was fighting Pacquiao, I got right back to work, because I’m always ready to fight anyone they put in front of me.
“I got elevated to being the WBA champion in January, but now we can say that whoever wins on August 21 is the true WBA Welterweight World Champion.
“It’s all about making adjustments at this point. I’ve had a lot of experience doing this before fights. It’s happened multiple times, so I’m truly prepared at all times to adjust to whatever comes my way.
“Fighting Manny Pacquiao is very significant to me. It means the world to me. I’m not fighting for the money, I’m fighting for my legacy, and for my country. This is the most important fight of my life.
“I’m well-aware that Pacquiao is the favorite. But at the same time, I’m a champion. Since I came back five years ago, I’ve overcome so much. I’ve faced so many strong opponents in order to get to where I am today. I have full confidence in myself and my ability to get a victory.
“When I went away from boxing, I was focused on family and spending time with my son. At that time, I never thought I would be defending a title against Manny Pacquiao. But for the past five years I’ve been one of the most active and successful boxers out there and I’m ready to prove myself once again.
“I’m a fighter not only inside of the ring, but outside of the ring I fight for the freedom of my people. That’s the most important thing to me. I hope everyone fighting for freedom in Cuba is safe and knows that I’ll be fighting for them on Saturday, August 21.
“Underestimating Manny Pacquiao is out of the question. He’s going to be ready. I have prepared to face the best so that I can become the best.
“This is going to be a great fight for all the fans. I’m planning on leaving everything in the ring. I can guarantee an amazing fight. We’re going to give a big gift to the fans on August 21. I’m leaving my heart out there for all my fans.”
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].
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