Pound-for-pound: Manny Pacquiao falls off Boxing Junkie’s list after his unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas on Saturday.
Manny Pacquaio has fallen out of Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound rankings. And based on what we saw against Yordenis Ugas on Saturday, it seems unlikely that he’ll climb back onto the list.
Ugas, the crafty Miami-based Cuban, outboxed the Filipino legend to win a clear unanimous decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, 42, was coming off a stunning split-decision victory over Keith Thurman in July 2019, which was more than two years ago. He was competitive and fought with passion against Ugas but more than ever he looked his age.
Thus, Pacquiao, ranked No. 15 going into the fight, drops off the list. And he’s replaced by Ugas, who enters as an Honorable Mention. Ugas is currently on a 12-1 run against mostly good opposition, the only loss being a disputed decision against Shawn Porter.
As a result of the aforementioned moves, Gervonta Davis rises from Honorable Mention to No. 15.
Here is where the pound-for-pounders stand.
BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND
Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
Canelo Alvarez – Scheduled to fight Caleb Plant to unify all four major 168-pound titles on Nov. 6.
Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to challenge heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua on Sept. 25 in London.
Teofimo Lopez – In talks to defend his undisputed lightweight championship against George Kambosos on Oct. 5.
Vasiliy Lomachenko – In talks to fight Richard Commey on Dec. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Tyson Fury – Scheduled to defend the WBC heavyweight title against Deontay Wilder on July 24 in Las Vegas.
Juan Francisco Estrada – In talks to defend his WBA and WBA junior bantamweight titles in what would be a third fight against Roman Gonzalez on Oct. 16.
Gennadiy Golovkin – In talks to fight Ryota Murata in a middleweight title-unification fight on Dec. 28 in Tokyo.
Mikey Garcia – Reportedly targeting a Sept. 18 return to the ring. No opponent has been announced.
Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
Josh Taylor – Tentatively scheduled to defend his undisputed junior welterweight championship against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall on Dec. 18 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Artur Beterbiev – The light heavyweight titleholder has been ordered to defend against Marcus Browne but talks are in the early stages.
Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled
Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Mairis Briedis (reportedly in talks to fight Michal Cieslak next month), Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Sor Rungvisai is expected to meet Carlos Cuadras as part of a junior bantamweight tournament but nothing is official), Yordenis Ugas (no fight scheduled) and Oscar Valdez (scheduled to fight Robson Conceicao on Sept. 10).
Pound-for-pound: Manny Pacquiao falls off Boxing Junkie’s list after his unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas on Saturday.
Manny Pacquaio has fallen out of Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound rankings. And based on what we saw against Yordenis Ugas on Saturday, it seems unlikely that he’ll climb back onto the list.
Ugas, the crafty Miami-based Cuban, outboxed the Filipino legend to win a clear unanimous decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, 42, was coming off a stunning split-decision victory over Keith Thurman in July 2019, which was more than two years ago. He was competitive and fought with passion against Ugas but more than ever he looked his age.
Thus, Pacquiao, ranked No. 15 going into the fight, drops off the list. And he’s replaced by Ugas, who enters as an Honorable Mention. Ugas is currently on a 12-1 run against mostly good opposition, the only loss being a disputed decision against Shawn Porter.
As a result of the aforementioned moves, Gervonta Davis rises from Honorable Mention to No. 15.
Here is where the pound-for-pounders stand.
BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND
Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
Canelo Alvarez – Scheduled to fight Caleb Plant to unify all four major 168-pound titles on Nov. 6.
Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to challenge heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua on Sept. 25 in London.
Teofimo Lopez – In talks to defend his undisputed lightweight championship against George Kambosos on Oct. 5.
Vasiliy Lomachenko – In talks to fight Richard Commey on Dec. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Tyson Fury – Scheduled to defend the WBC heavyweight title against Deontay Wilder on July 24 in Las Vegas.
Juan Francisco Estrada – In talks to defend his WBA and WBA junior bantamweight titles in what would be a third fight against Roman Gonzalez on Oct. 16.
Gennadiy Golovkin – In talks to fight Ryota Murata in a middleweight title-unification fight on Dec. 28 in Tokyo.
Mikey Garcia – Reportedly targeting a Sept. 18 return to the ring. No opponent has been announced.
Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
Josh Taylor – Tentatively scheduled to defend his undisputed junior welterweight championship against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall on Dec. 18 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Artur Beterbiev – The light heavyweight titleholder has been ordered to defend against Marcus Browne but talks are in the early stages.
Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled
Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Mairis Briedis (reportedly in talks to fight Michal Cieslak next month), Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Sor Rungvisai is expected to meet Carlos Cuadras as part of a junior bantamweight tournament but nothing is official), Yordenis Ugas (no fight scheduled) and Oscar Valdez (scheduled to fight Robson Conceicao on Sept. 10).
Good, bad, worse: It’s time for Manny Pacquiao to walk away from the sport he has dominated for a quarter century.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
The focus before, during and after the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas on Saturday night was on the Filipino superstar, which was appropriate. Ugas is an excellent fighter; Pacquiao is a legend.
That said, let’s not forget what the Cuban did. He took the fight on 11 days notice after Errol Spence Jr. pulled out with an eye injury, which was like winning the lottery. Everyone wants to fight Pacquiao for obvious reasons – the money, the exposure, the chance to record a career-defining victory. One thing, though: You have to take advantage of the opportunity.
The one-time amateur world champion and Olympic bronze medalist confounded Pacquiao with his consistent jab and sharp, accurate power shots, particularly as his 42-year-old opponent began to slow down in the second half of the fight. Pacquiao admitted afterward that he couldn’t adjust to Ugas’ style. When has that ever happened beyond his showdown with Floyd Mayweather?
Of course, we knew going into the fight that Ugas had the ability to defeat Pacquiao. This was no great upset, as some have described it.
Ugas, naturally gifted and well-schooled, was a good pro from the outset but endured some growing pains. Most notably he lost back-to-back decisions to Emanuel Robles and Amir Imam in 2014, after which he joined forces with veteran trainer Ismael Salas.
That was a turning point. He’s 12-1 since, the only loss being a split decision against then-WBC titleholder Shawn Porter in March 2019. Many believe Ugas deserved the nod in the fight, which would’ve given him a major belt earlier.
Ugas backed into the WBA title. Pacquiao won the belt when he outpointed Keith Thurman in July 2019 but was designated “champion in recess” because of his activity, at which time Ugas, a secondary titleholder, was elevated to full champion.
On Saturday, Ugas removed any doubt about who is the rightful beltholder, surging down the stretch to win on the cards 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112. Thus, he had beaten an all-time great who remains a capable fighter into his 40s, an accomplish that should be appreciated.
And this is only a beginning for Ugas, who now has leverage as he pursues more big-money, high-profile fights. He has arrived.
***
BAD
It’s always difficult to watch a once-great fighter struggle, which we witnessed on Saturday night.
Pacquiao fought reasonably well against an elite opponent but he wasn’t the dynamo we’ve come to know and love. His hands were still quick but his legs wouldn’t – couldn’t? – follow his orders, which is a sign of decline. And, just as important, he never figured out how to cope with Ugas’ style.
I think the Pacquiao of even a few years ago could’ve beaten Ugas or at least given him a better fight, but this version is 42 and hadn’t been in the ring since July 2019, when he outpointed Keith Thurman. The Pacquiao of old seems to have given way to an old Pacquiao.
What now?
He said after the setback that he will weigh the pros and cons of retirement and then make a decision. “In my heart, I want to continue [to] fight. But I have to consider, also, my body. … In this sport, this is my passion, this is why I’m still here fighting at the age of 42. I’m enjoying it, but sometimes you have to think about the life span of your body.”
If I were advising him, I would tell him that it’s time to move on, time to focus full time on your family and political career. He’s been a professional fighter for more than a quarter century. He’s won titles in a record eight weight divisions. He’s given fans more thrills than the sport’s Top 10 fighters combined.
Anything he accomplishes at this point is redundant. His once-in-a-lifetime legacy has been set in stone for some time.
The early victories over the great Mexican trio of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez were probably enough to get him into the Hall of Fame. Then came the sensational knockouts of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.
After that came victories over Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and Tim Bradley, as well as his loss to the greatest of the era, Floyd Mayweather.
Was he finished? Not quite. At 40, he did the impossible by defeating the previously unbeaten Thurman to add one more major belt to his collection and prove beyond a doubt that he’s one of the greatest of all time.
That’s about all a boxer can accomplish.
And think about this: Many once-great fighters go out on a horrible note. Muhammad Ali, not able to defend himself adequately, was pummeled by Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick in his final two fights. Sugar Ray Leonard was knocked out by Hector Camacho. And, again, Pacquiao himself forced De La Hoya into retirement with a terrible beating.
Does anyone want to see Pacquiao go out like that? It will happen at some point if he continues to fight.
The Filipino hero gave a solid performance against Ugas, one of the best welterweights in the world. He was never knocked down, never endured brutal punishment, never even completely dominated by a fighter seven years his junior.
That’s a good way to finish a career, particularly one as remarkable as Pacquiao’s. He’s given so much of himself for so long. It’s time to “think about the lifespan of your body.”
***
WORSE
Robert Guerrero (left) and Victor Ortiz gave everything they had Saturday. AP Photo / John Locher
I have nothing negative to say about Robert Guerrero and Victory Ortiz other than how I felt as I watched them fight on the Pacquiao-Ugas card: It was difficult.
I remember when Guerrero held titles at featherweight and then junior lightweight more than a decade ago. He was an excellent boxer with unusual toughness and decent power, which made him a nightmare for opponents at the lower weights.
And who can forget the fact that he was at his peak at a time when his wife was battling cancer. Those were trying times.
I remember when the gifted Ortiz realized his potential by outpointing Andre Berto to win the WBC welterweight title in 2011, which seemed to be just the beginning for him.
Those days – for both fighters – are long gone.
They showed a lot of heart but little else in their meeting on Saturday, in which they fought almost exclusively nose to nose. It was more a battle of attrition than skill, as if they no longer have confidence in their ability to fight from the outside.
Maybe they were just shedding rust. After all, Ortiz, 34, hadn’t fought in 3½ years. Guerrero, 38, had been out of the ring for two. That’s an optimistic notion, however. More likely their skills have eroded after long, taxing careers.
Guerrero won the 10-round welterweight fight by a close unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 96-94. He earned the right to take part in another high-profile fight. And Ortiz probably acquitted himself well enough to stay active if that’s what he wants to do.
I have to be honest, though. I keep thinking back to the days when they had something special. I don’t want to witness another performance like I saw from both fighters on Saturday night.
***
RABBIT PUNCHES
Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, posted a touching tribute to her husband on Instagram after his setback against Ugas. It was a personal message to the most important person in her life. However, some of her sentiments undoubtedly are shared by Pacquiao’s countrymen and many others. Here’s what she had to say:
“Words cannot express how proud I am of the Man you are. We your family have seen how much you have toiled, [sacrificed] and given of yourself blood sweat and tears since the beginning when you dreamed of becoming world champion. You never think of yourself and not afraid to risk your life on the ring time and time again because you love to make the people happy. Over the years we have become even more proud to be by your side as you inspire us to be kind giving and helpful to all.” Well said. …
Featherweight contender Mark Magsayo, who is managed by Pacquiao, gave an inspired performance on Saturday’s card. He got off to strong start by putting opponent Julio Ceja on the canvas in the first round but went down himself from body shots in Round 5 and generally struggled in the scheduled 12-round bout. Then, with the momentum in Ceja’s favor, Magsayo suddenly unloaded a perfect straight right that rendered Ceja unconscious and followed with a short right as he was falling. Just like that, Magsayo turned what appeared to be a disappointing night into a spectacular victory. And he did it on the biggest stage. … Another featherweight contender, unbeaten Carlos Castro, also had to overcome significant resistance to win his fight on the Pacquiao-Ugas card. The Phoenix-based Mexican had to fight off relentless veteran Oscar Escandon before finally taking control of the fight and stopping his Colombian opponent in the 10th and final round. In the end, Castro made a strong statement. … Gervonta Davis survived a scare on Saturday afternoon. A private plane in which he was flying had to make an emergency landing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The pound-for-pounder wasn’t injured but he’ll think twice about using that mode of transportation in the future. “For everyone wanting to fly private, I think that’s over for that,” he said. … I’m driving or catch a train.” Davis was among a small group of people headed to Las Vegas for the Pacquiao-Ugas fight.
Good, bad, worse: It’s time for Manny Pacquiao to walk away from the sport he has dominated for a quarter century.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
The focus before, during and after the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas on Saturday night was on the Filipino superstar, which was appropriate. Ugas is an excellent fighter; Pacquiao is a legend.
That said, let’s not forget what the Cuban did. He took the fight on 11 days notice after Errol Spence Jr. pulled out with an eye injury, which was like winning the lottery. Everyone wants to fight Pacquiao for obvious reasons – the money, the exposure, the chance to record a career-defining victory. One thing, though: You have to take advantage of the opportunity.
The one-time amateur world champion and Olympic bronze medalist confounded Pacquiao with his consistent jab and sharp, accurate power shots, particularly as his 42-year-old opponent began to slow down in the second half of the fight. Pacquiao admitted afterward that he couldn’t adjust to Ugas’ style. When has that ever happened beyond his showdown with Floyd Mayweather?
Of course, we knew going into the fight that Ugas had the ability to defeat Pacquiao. This was no great upset, as some have described it.
Ugas, naturally gifted and well-schooled, was a good pro from the outset but endured some growing pains. Most notably he lost back-to-back decisions to Emanuel Robles and Amir Imam in 2014, after which he joined forces with veteran trainer Ismael Salas.
That was a turning point. He’s 12-1 since, the only loss being a split decision against then-WBC titleholder Shawn Porter in March 2019. Many believe Ugas deserved the nod in the fight, which would’ve given him a major belt earlier.
Ugas backed into the WBA title. Pacquiao won the belt when he outpointed Keith Thurman in July 2019 but was designated “champion in recess” because of his activity, at which time Ugas, a secondary titleholder, was elevated to full champion.
On Saturday, Ugas removed any doubt about who is the rightful beltholder, surging down the stretch to win on the cards 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112. Thus, he had beaten an all-time great who remains a capable fighter into his 40s, an accomplish that should be appreciated.
And this is only a beginning for Ugas, who now has leverage as he pursues more big-money, high-profile fights. He has arrived.
***
BAD
It’s always difficult to watch a once-great fighter struggle, which we witnessed on Saturday night.
Pacquiao fought reasonably well against an elite opponent but he wasn’t the dynamo we’ve come to know and love. His hands were still quick but his legs wouldn’t – couldn’t? – follow his orders, which is a sign of decline. And, just as important, he never figured out how to cope with Ugas’ style.
I think the Pacquiao of even a few years ago could’ve beaten Ugas or at least given him a better fight, but this version is 42 and hadn’t been in the ring since July 2019, when he outpointed Keith Thurman. The Pacquiao of old seems to have given way to an old Pacquiao.
What now?
He said after the setback that he will weigh the pros and cons of retirement and then make a decision. “In my heart, I want to continue [to] fight. But I have to consider, also, my body. … In this sport, this is my passion, this is why I’m still here fighting at the age of 42. I’m enjoying it, but sometimes you have to think about the life span of your body.”
If I were advising him, I would tell him that it’s time to move on, time to focus full time on your family and political career. He’s been a professional fighter for more than a quarter century. He’s won titles in a record eight weight divisions. He’s given fans more thrills than the sport’s Top 10 fighters combined.
Anything he accomplishes at this point is redundant. His once-in-a-lifetime legacy has been set in stone for some time.
The early victories over the great Mexican trio of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez were probably enough to get him into the Hall of Fame. Then came the sensational knockouts of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.
After that came victories over Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and Tim Bradley, as well as his loss to the greatest of the era, Floyd Mayweather.
Was he finished? Not quite. At 40, he did the impossible by defeating the previously unbeaten Thurman to add one more major belt to his collection and prove beyond a doubt that he’s one of the greatest of all time.
That’s about all a boxer can accomplish.
And think about this: Many once-great fighters go out on a horrible note. Muhammad Ali, not able to defend himself adequately, was pummeled by Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick in his final two fights. Sugar Ray Leonard was knocked out by Hector Camacho. And, again, Pacquiao himself forced De La Hoya into retirement with a terrible beating.
Does anyone want to see Pacquiao go out like that? It will happen at some point if he continues to fight.
The Filipino hero gave a solid performance against Ugas, one of the best welterweights in the world. He was never knocked down, never endured brutal punishment, never even completely dominated by a fighter seven years his junior.
That’s a good way to finish a career, particularly one as remarkable as Pacquiao’s. He’s given so much of himself for so long. It’s time to “think about the lifespan of your body.”
***
WORSE
Robert Guerrero (left) and Victor Ortiz gave everything they had Saturday. AP Photo / John Locher
I have nothing negative to say about Robert Guerrero and Victory Ortiz other than how I felt as I watched them fight on the Pacquiao-Ugas card: It was difficult.
I remember when Guerrero held titles at featherweight and then junior lightweight more than a decade ago. He was an excellent boxer with unusual toughness and decent power, which made him a nightmare for opponents at the lower weights.
And who can forget the fact that he was at his peak at a time when his wife was battling cancer. Those were trying times.
I remember when the gifted Ortiz realized his potential by outpointing Andre Berto to win the WBC welterweight title in 2011, which seemed to be just the beginning for him.
Those days – for both fighters – are long gone.
They showed a lot of heart but little else in their meeting on Saturday, in which they fought almost exclusively nose to nose. It was more a battle of attrition than skill, as if they no longer have confidence in their ability to fight from the outside.
Maybe they were just shedding rust. After all, Ortiz, 34, hadn’t fought in 3½ years. Guerrero, 38, had been out of the ring for two. That’s an optimistic notion, however. More likely their skills have eroded after long, taxing careers.
Guerrero won the 10-round welterweight fight by a close unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 96-94. He earned the right to take part in another high-profile fight. And Ortiz probably acquitted himself well enough to stay active if that’s what he wants to do.
I have to be honest, though. I keep thinking back to the days when they had something special. I don’t want to witness another performance like I saw from both fighters on Saturday night.
***
RABBIT PUNCHES
Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, posted a touching tribute to her husband on Instagram after his setback against Ugas. It was a personal message to the most important person in her life. However, some of her sentiments undoubtedly are shared by Pacquiao’s countrymen and many others. Here’s what she had to say:
“Words cannot express how proud I am of the Man you are. We your family have seen how much you have toiled, [sacrificed] and given of yourself blood sweat and tears since the beginning when you dreamed of becoming world champion. You never think of yourself and not afraid to risk your life on the ring time and time again because you love to make the people happy. Over the years we have become even more proud to be by your side as you inspire us to be kind giving and helpful to all.” Well said. …
Featherweight contender Mark Magsayo, who is managed by Pacquiao, gave an inspired performance on Saturday’s card. He got off to strong start by putting opponent Julio Ceja on the canvas in the first round but went down himself from body shots in Round 5 and generally struggled in the scheduled 12-round bout. Then, with the momentum in Ceja’s favor, Magsayo suddenly unloaded a perfect straight right that rendered Ceja unconscious and followed with a short right as he was falling. Just like that, Magsayo turned what appeared to be a disappointing night into a spectacular victory. And he did it on the biggest stage. … Another featherweight contender, unbeaten Carlos Castro, also had to overcome significant resistance to win his fight on the Pacquiao-Ugas card. The Phoenix-based Mexican had to fight off relentless veteran Oscar Escandon before finally taking control of the fight and stopping his Colombian opponent in the 10th and final round. In the end, Castro made a strong statement. … Gervonta Davis survived a scare on Saturday afternoon. A private plane in which he was flying had to make an emergency landing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The pound-for-pounder wasn’t injured but he’ll think twice about using that mode of transportation in the future. “For everyone wanting to fly private, I think that’s over for that,” he said. … I’m driving or catch a train.” Davis was among a small group of people headed to Las Vegas for the Pacquiao-Ugas fight.
Yordenis Ugas proved too much for 42-year-old Manny Pacquiao, winning a unanimous decision in their title fight Saturday in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquaio was good but not good enough, not at 42, not against an opponent as capable as Yordenis Ugas.
The Cuban didn’t exactly make Pacquiao look like an old man but he did reveal the Filipino’s limitations more than a quarter of a century into his professional career, winning a clear unanimous decision to retain his WBA welterweight title Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao fought as hard as he ever has, throwing an astounding number of punches for a man his age – 815, according to CompuBox. That was the good news. The bad news was that he landed only 16% of his shots, he didn’t move as fluidly as he once did and he was easy to hit at times. Ugas landed 37% of his punches, 59% of his power shots.
Ugas found a home for his jab all fight long but it his wide right hand – which Pacquiao could never completely avoid – that was the most-effective punch in the fight.
Pacquiao had his moments, darting inside to throw still-quick combinations and then darting back out as we’ve grown accustomed to seeing over the years. He was competitive. However, he simply didn’t do enough to win the fight, as the official scorecards indicate.
Ugas won by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112. Boxing Junkie scored it 116-112 for Ugas, who left no doubt that he’s the rightful owner of the WBA belt.
Pacquiao won the WBA title by outpointing Keith Thurman two years ago but he was designated “champion in recess” because of his inactivity, after which Ugas was elevated to full champion.
“Everyone said he was the champion. Now they know who the real champion is,” Ugas said through a translator.
Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) was scheduled to fight Fabian Maidana on the card when he received a phone call 11 days beforehand. Errol Spence Jr., Pacquiao’s original opponent, had pulled out because of an eye injury. Was Ugas willing to step in?
Absolutely. It was like winning the lottery, both in terms of money and an opportunity to record a defining victory. And he took full advantage of it.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) came out aggressively at the opening bell, apparently in an attempt to build a lead on the cards as he had against Thurman. And he was able to win rounds with his activity; he outworked Ugas early in the fight.
However, Ugas remained patient. He wasn’t as busy as Pacquaio but he consistently landed his jab and sharp follow-up powers shots, which were cleaner than the punches his opponent landed.
And eventually Pacquiao began to look his age. He continued to fight hard but his output declined as the fight progressed. At the same time, Ugas, as fresh as he was in Round 1, picked up his pace and took firm control of the fight.
His dominance in the final rounds gave him the victory of a lifetime, one that will surely lead to more big-money, high-profile fights in the near future. Fellow titleholders Spence and Terence Crawford are on notice.
“Now the plan is to unify the title at welterweight. … [Spence] is the next one I want to fight,” Ugas said.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao was as gracious as ever in his post-fight interview. He repeatedly said “that’s boxing,” his way of saying that one fighter wins and the other loses. He just happened to be the latter on this night.
One thing people will be talking about in the coming days was his inability to move as well as he used to. He addressed that by explaining ominously, “My legs were so tight. … That’s why it was hard to move.”
That’s not a good sign for a fighter who turns 43 in December.
And Pacquiao made it clear that he could never figure out how to cope with Ugas’ jab and quick, accurate power shots or manage to get inside enough to land his own combinations.
He was frustrated from beginning to end.
“I had a hard time making adjustments [to] his style,” Pacquiao said. “I think that was the problem for me. I didn’t make adjustments right away. Also, my legs were tight.”
The natural question in light of the loss and those comments: Will we see the living legend in the ring again?
“I don’t know,” he said. “Let me rest first, relax and make a decision whether to continue to fight or not.”
If that was Pacquiao’s final fight, the fact he lost it will be hard for the former eight-division titleholder to swallow whether or not “that’s boxing.” At the same time, he can say truthfully that he went out like a champion, fighting with as much passion as he did when he turned pro as a 16-year-old in 1995.
He was warrior to the end.
“I’m sorry we lost tonight,” he said. “You know I did my best.”
Yordenis Ugas proved too much for 42-year-old Manny Pacquiao, winning a unanimous decision in their title fight Saturday in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquaio was good but not good enough, not at 42, not against an opponent as capable as Yordenis Ugas.
The Cuban didn’t exactly make Pacquiao look like an old man but he did reveal the Filipino’s limitations more than a quarter of a century into his professional career, winning a clear unanimous decision to retain his WBA welterweight title Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao fought as hard as he ever has, throwing an astounding number of punches for a man his age – 815, according to CompuBox. That was the good news. The bad news was that he landed only 16% of his shots, he didn’t move as fluidly as he once did and he was easy to hit at times. Ugas landed 37% of his punches, 59% of his power shots.
Ugas found a home for his jab all fight long but it his wide right hand – which Pacquiao could never completely avoid – that was the most-effective punch in the fight.
Pacquiao had his moments, darting inside to throw still-quick combinations and then darting back out as we’ve grown accustomed to seeing over the years. He was competitive. However, he simply didn’t do enough to win the fight, as the official scorecards indicate.
Ugas won by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112. Boxing Junkie scored it 116-112 for Ugas, who left no doubt that he’s the rightful owner of the WBA belt.
Pacquiao won the WBA title by outpointing Keith Thurman two years ago but he was designated “champion in recess” because of his inactivity, after which Ugas was elevated to full champion.
“Everyone said he was the champion. Now they know who the real champion is,” Ugas said through a translator.
Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) was scheduled to fight Fabian Maidana on the card when he received a phone call 11 days beforehand. Errol Spence Jr., Pacquiao’s original opponent, had pulled out because of an eye injury. Was Ugas willing to step in?
Absolutely. It was like winning the lottery, both in terms of money and an opportunity to record a defining victory. And he took full advantage of it.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) came out aggressively at the opening bell, apparently in an attempt to build a lead on the cards as he had against Thurman. And he was able to win rounds with his activity; he outworked Ugas early in the fight.
However, Ugas remained patient. He wasn’t as busy as Pacquaio but he consistently landed his jab and sharp follow-up powers shots, which were cleaner than the punches his opponent landed.
And eventually Pacquiao began to look his age. He continued to fight hard but his output declined as the fight progressed. At the same time, Ugas, as fresh as he was in Round 1, picked up his pace and took firm control of the fight.
His dominance in the final rounds gave him the victory of a lifetime, one that will surely lead to more big-money, high-profile fights in the near future. Fellow titleholders Spence and Terence Crawford are on notice.
“Now the plan is to unify the title at welterweight. … [Spence] is the next one I want to fight,” Ugas said.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao was as gracious as ever in his post-fight interview. He repeatedly said “that’s boxing,” his way of saying that one fighter wins and the other loses. He just happened to be the latter on this night.
One thing people will be talking about in the coming days was his inability to move as well as he used to. He addressed that by explaining ominously, “My legs were so tight. … That’s why it was hard to move.”
That’s not a good sign for a fighter who turns 43 in December.
And Pacquiao made it clear that he could never figure out how to cope with Ugas’ jab and quick, accurate power shots or manage to get inside enough to land his own combinations.
He was frustrated from beginning to end.
“I had a hard time making adjustments [to] his style,” Pacquiao said. “I think that was the problem for me. I didn’t make adjustments right away. Also, my legs were tight.”
The natural question in light of the loss and those comments: Will we see the living legend in the ring again?
“I don’t know,” he said. “Let me rest first, relax and make a decision whether to continue to fight or not.”
If that was Pacquiao’s final fight, the fact he lost it will be hard for the former eight-division titleholder to swallow whether or not “that’s boxing.” At the same time, he can say truthfully that he went out like a champion, fighting with as much passion as he did when he turned pro as a 16-year-old in 1995.
He was warrior to the end.
“I’m sorry we lost tonight,” he said. “You know I did my best.”
Mark Magsayo survived a tough test by stopping Julio Ceja in 10 rounds Saturday in Las Vegas.
Mark Magsayo overcame adversity in dramatic fashion Saturday night.
The 27-year-old featherweight contender survived a damaging body attack by Julio Ceja to stop the capable Mexican in the 10th-round of a scheduled 12-round bout on the Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas card in Las Vegas.
Magsayo (23-0, 16 KOs) got off to a strong start, putting Ceja (32-5-1, 28 KOs) down with a left hook early in the opening round.
However, Ceja, experienced at the highest level, bounced back to push Magsayo to his limits. Ceja’s consistent body blows were so painful that Magsayo was forced to take a knee in Round 5, at which point his perfect record seemed to be in serious jeopardy.
Magsayo responded by boxing after that, moving, jabbing, scoring with power punches when he could as Ceja pursued him.
Then, about 30 seconds into Round 10, Magsayo landed a perfect straight right that hurt Ceja and followed with a short right as Ceja was beginning to fall.
There was no reason to count because Ceja was unconscious when he hit the canvas. The official time of the stoppage was 50 seconds of the 10th round.
Mark Magsayo survived a tough test by stopping Julio Ceja in 10 rounds Saturday in Las Vegas.
Mark Magsayo overcame adversity in dramatic fashion Saturday night.
The 27-year-old featherweight contender survived a damaging body attack by Julio Ceja to stop the capable Mexican in the 10th-round of a scheduled 12-round bout on the Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas card in Las Vegas.
Magsayo (23-0, 16 KOs) got off to a strong start, putting Ceja (32-5-1, 28 KOs) down with a left hook early in the opening round.
However, Ceja, experienced at the highest level, bounced back to push Magsayo to his limits. Ceja’s consistent body blows were so painful that Magsayo was forced to take a knee in Round 5, at which point his perfect record seemed to be in serious jeopardy.
Magsayo responded by boxing after that, moving, jabbing, scoring with power punches when he could as Ceja pursued him.
Then, about 30 seconds into Round 10, Magsayo landed a perfect straight right that hurt Ceja and followed with a short right as Ceja was beginning to fall.
There was no reason to count because Ceja was unconscious when he hit the canvas. The official time of the stoppage was 50 seconds of the 10th round.
Carlos Castro defeated Oscar Escandon as expected but he had to work hard to do it. Castro, a rising featherweight, withstood relentless pressure from Escandon, wore him down and finally stopped him in the 10th and final round on the Manny …
Carlos Castro defeated Oscar Escandon as expected but he had to work hard to do it.
Castro, a rising featherweight, withstood relentless pressure from Escandon, wore him down and finally stopped him in the 10th and final round on the Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas card Saturday in Las Vegas.
Escandon (26-6, 18 KOs) is 2-5 in his last seven fights, including the one on Saturday, but he fought like a man who came to win.
Castro (27-0, 12 KOs) was wobbled by more than one shot in the opening round, in which Escandon began to apply relentless pressure that he maintained until the late rounds.
Castro, the much taller of the two, took control after that, however, jabbing, moving and landing hard punches mostly from the outside. And even when Escandon worked his way inside, Castro held his own.
Escandon had slowed down by Round 8 and was ripe for a knockout, the result of Castro’s fast pace and accurate shots.
Castro finished the job in Round 10, hurting Escandon with a right hand and then forcing him to the canvas with a barrage of hard follow-up punches. Escandon got up but couldn’t continue, which prompted referee Celestino Ruiz to stop the fight.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:08 of Round 10.
Carlos Castro defeated Oscar Escandon as expected but he had to work hard to do it. Castro, a rising featherweight, withstood relentless pressure from Escandon, wore him down and finally stopped him in the 10th and final round on the Manny …
Carlos Castro defeated Oscar Escandon as expected but he had to work hard to do it.
Castro, a rising featherweight, withstood relentless pressure from Escandon, wore him down and finally stopped him in the 10th and final round on the Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas card Saturday in Las Vegas.
Escandon (26-6, 18 KOs) is 2-5 in his last seven fights, including the one on Saturday, but he fought like a man who came to win.
Castro (27-0, 12 KOs) was wobbled by more than one shot in the opening round, in which Escandon began to apply relentless pressure that he maintained until the late rounds.
Castro, the much taller of the two, took control after that, however, jabbing, moving and landing hard punches mostly from the outside. And even when Escandon worked his way inside, Castro held his own.
Escandon had slowed down by Round 8 and was ripe for a knockout, the result of Castro’s fast pace and accurate shots.
Castro finished the job in Round 10, hurting Escandon with a right hand and then forcing him to the canvas with a barrage of hard follow-up punches. Escandon got up but couldn’t continue, which prompted referee Celestino Ruiz to stop the fight.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:08 of Round 10.
