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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 09: Manny Pacquiao celebrates after defeating Timothy Bradley Jr. by unanimous decision in their welterweight championship fight on April 9, 2016 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 09: Manny Pacquiao celebrates after defeating Timothy Bradley Jr. by unanimous decision in their welterweight championship fight on April 9, 2016 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
It shocked the boxing world to see Errol Spence Jr pull out of his IBF/WBC welterweight title fight against Manny Pacquiao on August 21. Subsequently, Pacquiao took some time to put out some encouraging words to ‘The Truth‘.
Per CBS Sports, he said, “First and foremost, I ask everyone to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery for Errol Spence Jr. Thank God his physical examination discovered his eye condition before he suffered any further damage.”
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 20: Manny Pacquiao attends a post-fight news conference after defeating Keith Thurman in a WBA welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao won the fight by split decision. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
The promoters could not afford to scrap another mega-fight or postpone it. Hence, following the setback, Yordenis Ugas, who was fighting on the same card, stepped up to occupy the main event slot. On August 21, he will put his WBA belt on the line against Manny Pacquiao at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Commenting on the fight, Pacquiao said, “This fight is not an easy fight. Ugas is a champion. He took my belt and we will have to settle it in the ring.”
Fans consider Manny Pacquiao as one of the greatest in boxing history. What the Philippine senator lacks in physical attributes, he makes up for in speed and experience. The 25-year veteran will enter his seventy-second contest and will look to claim his sixty-third win. However, Ugas will not be daunted by these numbers.
Ugas says he is coming in to win this fight against Manny Pacquiao
Since 2015, Ugas has only lost one bout. The setback came against Keith Thurman. Subsequently, he has rallied back with wins over Mike Dallas Jr., Omar Figueroa Jr., and Abel Ramos.
Ahead of potentially his biggest bout yet, Ugas said, “It’s an honor to fight the great multiple division world champion, Manny Pacquiao, as I am more than ready to take on this challenge. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight.”
Even though Yordenis Ugas is a big name in boxing, he is still looking for a big fight, and the Pacquiao fight is just that. Will Ugas be able to deliver an upset against the favorite?
He certainly would look to prove that he is the true champion with a win over the former champion.
