Manny Pacquiao said he’s perfectly happy to be fighting Yordenis Ugas on Aug. 21 after Errol Spence Jr. had to pull out.
Is Manny Pacquiao upset that his super fight against Errol Spence Jr. fell through after Spence tested positive for COVID-19? Not really.
Pacquiao will still be facing an elite opponent on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas. Thus, the 42-year-old icon will an opportunity to do his thing on a big stage, just as he has done for most of the past two decades.
“I did my best in training and in preparation for this fight, so I wanted to make sure my hard work was not wasted,” Pacquiao said during a virtual press conference. “Ugas 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. Ugas stepped up and is bringing his WBA championship into the fight, which I’m excited to fight for.”
Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) was handed the WBA belt when the sanctioning body designated Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) its “champion in recess” because of his activity. He hasn’t fought since he outpointed Keith Thurman to win the title in July 2019.
Pacquiao acknowledges it won’t be easy to win it back against Ugas, a slick boxer who fights from an orthodox stance. Pacquiao had been preparing for Spence, who is a southpaw.
“What I can say to the fans is that this is definitely not an easy fight., Pacquiao said. “Ugas 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 know that Ugas is also very prepared for his fight because he was going to be on the undercard. If there was no Ugas 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.”
This scenario has allowed fans to see one of the greatest fighters of all time at least one more time. At his age, there’s no guarantee he’ll fight again.
Manny Pacquiao said he’s perfectly happy to be fighting Yordenis Ugas on Aug. 21 after Errol Spence Jr. had to pull out.
Is Manny Pacquiao upset that his super fight against Errol Spence Jr. fell through after Spence tested positive for COVID-19? Not really.
Pacquiao will still be facing an elite opponent on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas. Thus, the 42-year-old icon will an opportunity to do his thing on a big stage, just as he has done for most of the past two decades.
“I did my best in training and in preparation for this fight, so I wanted to make sure my hard work was not wasted,” Pacquiao said during a virtual press conference. “Ugas 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. Ugas stepped up and is bringing his WBA championship into the fight, which I’m excited to fight for.”
Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) was handed the WBA belt when the sanctioning body designated Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) its “champion in recess” because of his activity. He hasn’t fought since he outpointed Keith Thurman to win the title in July 2019.
Pacquiao acknowledges it won’t be easy to win it back against Ugas, a slick boxer who fights from an orthodox stance. Pacquiao had been preparing for Spence, who is a southpaw.
“What I can say to the fans is that this is definitely not an easy fight., Pacquiao said. “Ugas 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 know that Ugas is also very prepared for his fight because he was going to be on the undercard. If there was no Ugas 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.”
This scenario has allowed fans to see one of the greatest fighters of all time at least one more time. At his age, there’s no guarantee he’ll fight again.
Manny Pacquiao will fight Yordenis Ugas after Errol Spence Jr. pulled out of their Aug. 21 fight with an eye injury.
Manny Pacquiao’s next fight has lost luster.
The Filipino icon, who was scheduled to face WBC and IBF welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, will instead take on WBA champ Yordenis Ugas after Spence pulled out with an eye injury.
A pre-fight medical examination revealed a retinal tear in Spence’s left eye. He reportedly will have surgery on Wednesday.
Ugas was supposed to have faced Fabian Maidana on the Pacquiao-Spence undercard but Maidana pulled out with an injury, leaving the Cuban free to fill in for Spence.
The Pacquiao-Spence matchup was intriguing in part because of the bold decision the 42-year-old, eight-division titleholder made to face one of the top fighters pound for pound.
A victory over Spence would’ve been a crowning achievement in Pacquiao’s marvelous career.
“I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao on Aug. 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.”
Pacquiao expressed his support for Spence.
“The proper way — and the only way — to win a world title is inside the ring,” he said. “… 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.”
The Ugas fight isn’t as interesting because Ugas isn’t as a significant a threat to Pacquiao and doesn’t have the fanbase of Spence, who is highly respected worldwide.
That said, Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) is a major titleholder with an excellent skillset. Many believe he deserved the decision in a close loss to Shawn Porter in March 2019, after which he has won three consecutive fights.
Make no mistake: Ugas has a chance to beat Pacquiao.
Plus, Ugas holds the title that Pacquiao won by outpointing Keith Thurman in July 2019, his most-recent outing. He was later designated as “champion in recess” because of his inactivity, which resulted in Ugas being elevated to full titleholder.
Pacquiao objected to the WBA’s decision. The fight will give him the opportunity to regain the title he believes is rightfully his.
“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,” Ugas said. “I have tremendous respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight.
“Everyone knows my story about how I came to America to follow my dreams of becoming a world champion, and now it’s time to stamp my legacy with a victory as one of the best Cuban fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves.”
Spence indicated on social media that his doctors were optimistic that he’d make a full recovery, as he did from a horrible car accident in in October 2019.
And he expects to face the winner of Pacquiao-Ugas.
Manny Pacquiao will fight Yordenis Ugas after Errol Spence Jr. pulled out of their Aug. 21 fight with an eye injury.
Manny Pacquiao’s next fight has lost luster.
The Filipino icon, who was scheduled to face WBC and IBF welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, will instead take on WBA champ Yordenis Ugas after Spence pulled out with an eye injury.
A pre-fight medical examination revealed a retinal tear in Spence’s left eye. He reportedly will have surgery on Wednesday.
Ugas was supposed to have faced Fabian Maidana on the Pacquiao-Spence undercard but Maidana pulled out with an injury, leaving the Cuban free to fill in for Spence.
The Pacquiao-Spence matchup was intriguing in part because of the bold decision the 42-year-old, eight-division titleholder made to face one of the top fighters pound for pound.
A victory over Spence would’ve been a crowning achievement in Pacquiao’s marvelous career.
“I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao on Aug. 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.”
Pacquiao expressed his support for Spence.
“The proper way — and the only way — to win a world title is inside the ring,” he said. “… 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.”
The Ugas fight isn’t as interesting because Ugas isn’t as a significant a threat to Pacquiao and doesn’t have the fanbase of Spence, who is highly respected worldwide.
That said, Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) is a major titleholder with an excellent skillset. Many believe he deserved the decision in a close loss to Shawn Porter in March 2019, after which he has won three consecutive fights.
Make no mistake: Ugas has a chance to beat Pacquiao.
Plus, Ugas holds the title that Pacquiao won by outpointing Keith Thurman in July 2019, his most-recent outing. He was later designated as “champion in recess” because of his inactivity, which resulted in Ugas being elevated to full titleholder.
Pacquiao objected to the WBA’s decision. The fight will give him the opportunity to regain the title he believes is rightfully his.
“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,” Ugas said. “I have tremendous respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight.
“Everyone knows my story about how I came to America to follow my dreams of becoming a world champion, and now it’s time to stamp my legacy with a victory as one of the best Cuban fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves.”
Spence indicated on social media that his doctors were optimistic that he’d make a full recovery, as he did from a horrible car accident in in October 2019.
And he expects to face the winner of Pacquiao-Ugas.
Freddie Roach admitted that Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 might be Pacquiao’s last.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
Manny Pacquiao’s entrusted trainer Freddie Roach reiterated his belief that the former eight-weight world champion’s boxing career is winding down. But he maintained that whether or not welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. ends up being his final opponent on Aug. 21, the Filipino is coming to Las Vegas to win.
Pacquiao has been no stranger to Sin City, competing there for the first time back in 2001 with a sixth-round victory against Lehlo Ledwaba. Few would have predicted that a further 20 years at the apex of boxing would follow, nor a title shot against Errol Spence Jr., a man 11 years younger.
Yet the story remains that Pacman is consistently jabbing father time away as Roach insists his client is still as versatile as the fighter he first met many years ago.
“Manny doesn’t need to play his golden oldies. He is still producing new hits,” Roach told BoxingScene.com. “He hasn’t cut one corner in training camp. not one. He runs up the hills in Griffith Park straight to the Hollywood sign. He crunches thousands of sit-ups daily. He spars three days each week and hits every bag on the gym floor with bad intentions every day.
“He is still the hardest worker I have ever trained and an eager student. He wants this one more than anything. Manny isn’t training this hard to say goodbye. It’s to prove he’s still here.
“Philippine politics might influence when Manny hangs up his gloves. Maybe this is Manny’s last fight. But this summer, he has been training for his greatest victory, and for Manny, that is saying something. It’s the stuff that greatness is made of.”
This wouldn’t be the first time he’s proved critics wrong. Keith Thurman knows all too well just how determined Pacquiao is in his advancing years, having dropped his world welterweight belt to him via a split decision in 2019.
The future remains very much open for Pacquiao whatever the outcome at T-Mobile Arena. Victory adds yet more grandeur to a fantasy-like resume and the opportunity to extend his career well into his 40s, if he so desires.
Otherwise he is not short of other ventures once citing a desire to own an NBA franchise after hanging up his gloves, alongside his growing interest in his homeland’s political landscape.
Freddie Roach admitted that Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 might be Pacquiao’s last.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
Manny Pacquiao’s entrusted trainer Freddie Roach reiterated his belief that the former eight-weight world champion’s boxing career is winding down. But he maintained that whether or not welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. ends up being his final opponent on Aug. 21, the Filipino is coming to Las Vegas to win.
Pacquiao has been no stranger to Sin City, competing there for the first time back in 2001 with a sixth-round victory against Lehlo Ledwaba. Few would have predicted that a further 20 years at the apex of boxing would follow, nor a title shot against Errol Spence Jr., a man 11 years younger.
Yet the story remains that Pacman is consistently jabbing father time away as Roach insists his client is still as versatile as the fighter he first met many years ago.
“Manny doesn’t need to play his golden oldies. He is still producing new hits,” Roach told BoxingScene.com. “He hasn’t cut one corner in training camp. not one. He runs up the hills in Griffith Park straight to the Hollywood sign. He crunches thousands of sit-ups daily. He spars three days each week and hits every bag on the gym floor with bad intentions every day.
“He is still the hardest worker I have ever trained and an eager student. He wants this one more than anything. Manny isn’t training this hard to say goodbye. It’s to prove he’s still here.
“Philippine politics might influence when Manny hangs up his gloves. Maybe this is Manny’s last fight. But this summer, he has been training for his greatest victory, and for Manny, that is saying something. It’s the stuff that greatness is made of.”
This wouldn’t be the first time he’s proved critics wrong. Keith Thurman knows all too well just how determined Pacquiao is in his advancing years, having dropped his world welterweight belt to him via a split decision in 2019.
The future remains very much open for Pacquiao whatever the outcome at T-Mobile Arena. Victory adds yet more grandeur to a fantasy-like resume and the opportunity to extend his career well into his 40s, if he so desires.
Otherwise he is not short of other ventures once citing a desire to own an NBA franchise after hanging up his gloves, alongside his growing interest in his homeland’s political landscape.
Manny Pacquiao deserves our undying admiration by choosing to fight Errol Spence Jr.
I didn’t think I could admire Manny Pacquiao any more than I already did.
The Filipino icon is a former eight-division titleholder who has fought virtually all of his best-possible opponents, several of them multiple times. In his most-recent bout, at 40 years old, he upset Keith Thurman to win a welterweight title.
If anyone has earned the right to cruise into retirement by facing a minimal threat or a pushover like Conor McGregor, it’s Pacquiao. He could make a lot of money with minimal risk.
So what does he do? He decides to tangle with one of the most-feared fighters on the planet at 42 after having been out of the ring for two years. He will take on welterweight king Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, the fighters announced Friday.
Manny Pacquiao (right) proved against Keith Thurman that he can still fight into his 40s. John Gurzinski / AFP via Getty Images
I don’t know what’s in Pacquiao’s head. I can’t say with authority that he sought out the most-difficult challenge in his division because of some sort of warrior mentality.
This is what I do know: He’s well aware of the danger he faces against a beast like Spence, who is naturally bigger than he is and considered one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound. Yet that’s the choice he made.
It was as if he was saying, “What’s the point of doing this if you’re not going to do it at the highest level?”
I hope the other top fighters are paying close attention. Too many of them spend as much time and energy avoiding genuine challenges as they do exchanging punches in the ring, which has had a detrimental impact on the sport.
And here we have a fighter well past his prime who could make good money elsewhere choosing to face the best in the business.
This is how it should be done, folks.
Of course, it’s possible that this won’t end well. I fear for Pacquiao. I was in attendance the night in 2008 that he gave faded superstar Oscar De La Hoya a horrific beating at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, embarrassing him in the process. De La Hoya never fought again.
The last thing I want to see is Pacquiao going out the same way against Spence or anyone else. The thought makes me shudder.
Pacquiao has been in some tough fights – including his unforgettable one-punch knockout loss to rival Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 – but he’s never taken sustained punishment from anyone. And the longer he faces elite opponents, the more likely that scenario could become reality.
I hope and pray that we don’t say late on the night of Aug. 21, “Man, that fight should never have taken place?”
I thought Pacquiao had almost no chance of beating Thurman, one of the better 147-pounders of the past decade. The underdog was still capable, as he had demonstrated in a victory over Adrien Broner six months earlier, but he was no longer the dynamo he had been.
Still, in retrospect, I shouldn’t have been surprised that Pacquiao had his hand raised. Thurman had battled injuries and was relatively inactive. He was ripe for an upset.
Spence? He’s something altogether different. He demonstrated against Danny Garcia in December that he is fully recovered from injuries suffered in an October 2019 car accident, outpointing an excellent, experienced fighter by a wide margin.
The 31-year-old Texan has now defeated in succession Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia, which confirmed what many of us believed about him: He’s a special fighter capable of accomplishing great things.
Can Pacquiao do it again? Can he find a way to defeat a future Hall of Famer who is in his prime? I doubt it. On paper, I think it’s a one-sided matchup.
That’s why I can’t applaud Pacquiao enough. The danger is what makes his decision so admirable.
If he wins, more people than ever will suggest that he might be the greatest fighter of his generation and possibly of all time. It would be akin to Sugar Ray Leonard’s upset of Marvin Hagler. If he loses, they’ll say he demonstrated his greatness simply by running full speed toward a profoundly difficult challenge, which is rare these days.
Either way, Pacquiao is more of a legend than ever.
Manny Pacquiao deserves our undying admiration by choosing to fight Errol Spence Jr.
I didn’t think I could admire Manny Pacquiao any more than I already did.
The Filipino icon is a former eight-division titleholder who has fought virtually all of his best-possible opponents, several of them multiple times. In his most-recent bout, at 40 years old, he upset Keith Thurman to win a welterweight title.
If anyone has earned the right to cruise into retirement by facing a minimal threat or a pushover like Conor McGregor, it’s Pacquiao. He could make a lot of money with minimal risk.
So what does he do? He decides to tangle with one of the most-feared fighters on the planet at 42 after having been out of the ring for two years. He will take on welterweight king Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, the fighters announced Friday.
Manny Pacquiao (right) proved against Keith Thurman that he can still fight into his 40s. John Gurzinski / AFP via Getty Images
I don’t know what’s in Pacquiao’s head. I can’t say with authority that he sought out the most-difficult challenge in his division because of some sort of warrior mentality.
This is what I do know: He’s well aware of the danger he faces against a beast like Spence, who is naturally bigger than he is and considered one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound. Yet that’s the choice he made.
It was as if he was saying, “What’s the point of doing this if you’re not going to do it at the highest level?”
I hope the other top fighters are paying close attention. Too many of them spend as much time and energy avoiding genuine challenges as they do exchanging punches in the ring, which has had a detrimental impact on the sport.
And here we have a fighter well past his prime who could make good money elsewhere choosing to face the best in the business.
This is how it should be done, folks.
Of course, it’s possible that this won’t end well. I fear for Pacquiao. I was in attendance the night in 2008 that he gave faded superstar Oscar De La Hoya a horrific beating at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, embarrassing him in the process. De La Hoya never fought again.
The last thing I want to see is Pacquiao going out the same way against Spence or anyone else. The thought makes me shudder.
Pacquiao has been in some tough fights – including his unforgettable one-punch knockout loss to rival Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 – but he’s never taken sustained punishment from anyone. And the longer he faces elite opponents, the more likely that scenario could become reality.
I hope and pray that we don’t say late on the night of Aug. 21, “Man, that fight should never have taken place?”
I thought Pacquiao had almost no chance of beating Thurman, one of the better 147-pounders of the past decade. The underdog was still capable, as he had demonstrated in a victory over Adrien Broner six months earlier, but he was no longer the dynamo he had been.
Still, in retrospect, I shouldn’t have been surprised that Pacquiao had his hand raised. Thurman had battled injuries and was relatively inactive. He was ripe for an upset.
Spence? He’s something altogether different. He demonstrated against Danny Garcia in December that he is fully recovered from injuries suffered in an October 2019 car accident, outpointing an excellent, experienced fighter by a wide margin.
The 31-year-old Texan has now defeated in succession Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia, which confirmed what many of us believed about him: He’s a special fighter capable of accomplishing great things.
Can Pacquiao do it again? Can he find a way to defeat a future Hall of Famer who is in his prime? I doubt it. On paper, I think it’s a one-sided matchup.
That’s why I can’t applaud Pacquiao enough. The danger is what makes his decision so admirable.
If he wins, more people than ever will suggest that he might be the greatest fighter of his generation and possibly of all time. It would be akin to Sugar Ray Leonard’s upset of Marvin Hagler. If he loses, they’ll say he demonstrated his greatness simply by running full speed toward a profoundly difficult challenge, which is rare these days.
Either way, Pacquiao is more of a legend than ever.
Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr. will fight on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, the fighters anounced on social media.
One cannot say that Manny Pacquiao is afraid of a challenge.
The Filipino icon announced on social media that he will face 147-pound champion Errol Spence Jr. in a pay-per-view bout on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) surprised many by outpointing Keith Thurman to win the WBA welterweight title in July 2019. However, that will have been more than two years ago and he’s now 42.
Plus, Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) is naturally bigger than Pacquiao and one of the three or four best fighters in the world pound for pound.
Pacquiao was elevated to “champion in recess” because of his inactivity and was replaced as the sanctioning body’s main titleholder by Yordenis Ugas.
“Done deal, I’ll see y’all in Vegas for the biggest fight of the year,” Spence wrote on Instagram.
Pacquiao simply posted an image that included the wording, “Pacquiao vs. Spence, August 21, 2021, Las Vegas, Nevada.”
A specific site has not been announced.
Pacquiao is an eight-division titleholder. Spence is coming off a wide decision over Danny Garcia in December, his fifth successful title defense. He holds the IBF and WBC belts.
Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr. will fight on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, the fighters anounced on social media.
One cannot say that Manny Pacquiao is afraid of a challenge.
The Filipino icon announced on social media that he will face 147-pound champion Errol Spence Jr. in a pay-per-view bout on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) surprised many by outpointing Keith Thurman to win the WBA welterweight title in July 2019. However, that will have been more than two years ago and he’s now 42.
Plus, Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) is naturally bigger than Pacquiao and one of the three or four best fighters in the world pound for pound.
Pacquiao was elevated to “champion in recess” because of his inactivity and was replaced as the sanctioning body’s main titleholder by Yordenis Ugas.
“Done deal, I’ll see y’all in Vegas for the biggest fight of the year,” Spence wrote on Instagram.
Pacquiao simply posted an image that included the wording, “Pacquiao vs. Spence, August 21, 2021, Las Vegas, Nevada.”
A specific site has not been announced.
Pacquiao is an eight-division titleholder. Spence is coming off a wide decision over Danny Garcia in December, his fifth successful title defense. He holds the IBF and WBC belts.
