Errol Spence Jr., Yordenis Ugas make weight for title-unification fight Saturday

Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas on Friday made weight for their welterweight title-unification fight Saturday.

Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas on Friday made weight for their welterweight title-unification bout Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (pay-per-view).

Spence weighed 146.2, .8 below the division limit. Ugas came in at 146.8.

Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) will be defending his IBF and WBC titles, Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) his WBA belt.

Also, Isaac Cruz initially came in overweight for a scheduled 135-pound bout against Yuriorkis Gamboa, scaling 136.6 pounds. However, he weighed 134.8 on his second try.

Gamboa weighed 134.3.

Here are the weights for the other featured fights on the card:

  • Brandun Lee (142.4) vs. Zachary Ochoa (141.2), welterweights
  • Radzhab Butaev (146.6) vs. Eimantas Stanionis (146.6), welterweights
  • Cody Crowley (144.6) vs. Josesito Lopez (146.6), welterweights
  • Jose Valenzuela (134.8) vs. Francisco Vargas (134.4), lightweights

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Errol Spence Jr., Yordenis Ugas make weight for title-unification fight Saturday

Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas on Friday made weight for their welterweight title-unification fight Saturday.

Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas on Friday made weight for their welterweight title-unification bout Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (pay-per-view).

Spence weighed 146.2, .8 below the division limit. Ugas came in at 146.8.

Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) will be defending his IBF and WBC titles, Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) his WBA belt.

Also, Isaac Cruz initially came in overweight for a scheduled 135-pound bout against Yuriorkis Gamboa, scaling 136.6 pounds. However, he weighed 134.8 on his second try.

Gamboa weighed 134.3.

Here are the weights for the other featured fights on the card:

  • Brandun Lee (142.4) vs. Zachary Ochoa (141.2), welterweights
  • Radzhab Butaev (146.6) vs. Eimantas Stanionis (146.6), welterweights
  • Cody Crowley (144.6) vs. Josesito Lopez (146.6), welterweights
  • Jose Valenzuela (134.8) vs. Francisco Vargas (134.4), lightweights

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Errol Spence Jr., Yordenis Ugas set for pivotal welterweight clash

Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas are set for a pivotal welterweight clash Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

For Errol Spence Jr., it’s chance to prove that he has recovered from his accident and detached retina. For Yordenis Ugas, it’s a chance to prove that his title-winning victory over Manny Pacquiao was no fluke.

For both them, it’s a chance to enhance their legacies and take a step toward bigger and better things.

Spence and Ugas will face off for three of the four major welterweight titles on pay-per-view Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Spence’s backyard. Terence Crawford wears the fourth belt, the WBO version.

“When people say I can’t do this or I can’t do that, I prove them wrong every time,” Spence said Thursday afternoon at the final news conference before the fight.

“I am the same guy I was before the accident and the injury. I feel like I’m better than that guy that fought Shawn Porter or Danny García.”

Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), a 2012 U.S. Olympian, came out of the amateur ranks with sterling reputation and he has delivered as a pro.

He traveled to England to win his IBF title, stopping Kell Brook in 11 rounds in May 2017. He successfully defended three times before adding the WBC belt to his collection by outpointing Shawn Porter in the 2019 Fight of the Year.

Then disaster struck, a horrific one-car crash in Dallas in October 2019. He was hospitalized but was fortune to have suffered no serious injuries.

He bounced back to easily outpoint Danny Garcia in December 2020, his first and only fight post-accident. Then he had to pull out of a lucrative showdown with Pacquiao last August because of the eye injury.

Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) stepped in and stunned the world by taking down the Filipino icon to claim the WBA title.

Spence, 32, seems to be as motivated as ever in light of the obstacles he has had to overcome and the goals he has set for himself. And he’s particularly excited about fighting at the home the Dallas Cowboys a third time.

“Everybody knows my motivation,” he said. “I fight for my family, my friends, my city, the whole state of Texas. I want to be the three-belt unified champion of the world, and I want to become the future undisputed welterweight champion of the world. The first ever to do it.

“This is my house. This is my hometown. I love the Dallas Cowboys to death. I love AT&T Stadium, and I appreciate them giving me the hospitality and making this my home. Come Saturday night, I’m going to win another championship in the home of the Cowboys.”

Meanwhile, Ugas, reared in the Cuban amateur system, was a late bloomer as a professional.

He walked away from the sport for more than two years after losing back-to-back fights to Emanuel Robles and Amir Imam in 2014 but returned with a vengeance, handily outpointing Jamal James in 2016 and never slowing down afterward.

His only setback in his comeback was a disputed decision against then-titleholder Porter in 2019. He’s coming off a decision over Abel Ramos in September 2020.

“People know my story by now,” Ugas said. “I came back from being 15-3 back in 2016 and ever since then, I have established myself as part of the elite in this division. If he’s the big fish, I belong in that same tank because I’m willing to swim with the big fishes whenever, wherever.

“I have been willing to do whatever it takes to get to where I am right now. I promise you blood, sweat and everything that I have to give for my country and for my fans.”

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Errol Spence Jr., Yordenis Ugas set for pivotal welterweight clash

Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas are set for a pivotal welterweight clash Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

For Errol Spence Jr., it’s chance to prove that he has recovered from his accident and detached retina. For Yordenis Ugas, it’s a chance to prove that his title-winning victory over Manny Pacquiao was no fluke.

For both them, it’s a chance to enhance their legacies and take a step toward bigger and better things.

Spence and Ugas will face off for three of the four major welterweight titles on pay-per-view Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Spence’s backyard. Terence Crawford wears the fourth belt, the WBO version.

“When people say I can’t do this or I can’t do that, I prove them wrong every time,” Spence said Thursday afternoon at the final news conference before the fight.

“I am the same guy I was before the accident and the injury. I feel like I’m better than that guy that fought Shawn Porter or Danny García.”

Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), a 2012 U.S. Olympian, came out of the amateur ranks with sterling reputation and he has delivered as a pro.

He traveled to England to win his IBF title, stopping Kell Brook in 11 rounds in May 2017. He successfully defended three times before adding the WBC belt to his collection by outpointing Shawn Porter in the 2019 Fight of the Year.

Then disaster struck, a horrific one-car crash in Dallas in October 2019. He was hospitalized but was fortune to have suffered no serious injuries.

He bounced back to easily outpoint Danny Garcia in December 2020, his first and only fight post-accident. Then he had to pull out of a lucrative showdown with Pacquiao last August because of the eye injury.

Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) stepped in and stunned the world by taking down the Filipino icon to claim the WBA title.

Spence, 32, seems to be as motivated as ever in light of the obstacles he has had to overcome and the goals he has set for himself. And he’s particularly excited about fighting at the home the Dallas Cowboys a third time.

“Everybody knows my motivation,” he said. “I fight for my family, my friends, my city, the whole state of Texas. I want to be the three-belt unified champion of the world, and I want to become the future undisputed welterweight champion of the world. The first ever to do it.

“This is my house. This is my hometown. I love the Dallas Cowboys to death. I love AT&T Stadium, and I appreciate them giving me the hospitality and making this my home. Come Saturday night, I’m going to win another championship in the home of the Cowboys.”

Meanwhile, Ugas, reared in the Cuban amateur system, was a late bloomer as a professional.

He walked away from the sport for more than two years after losing back-to-back fights to Emanuel Robles and Amir Imam in 2014 but returned with a vengeance, handily outpointing Jamal James in 2016 and never slowing down afterward.

His only setback in his comeback was a disputed decision against then-titleholder Porter in 2019. He’s coming off a decision over Abel Ramos in September 2020.

“People know my story by now,” Ugas said. “I came back from being 15-3 back in 2016 and ever since then, I have established myself as part of the elite in this division. If he’s the big fish, I belong in that same tank because I’m willing to swim with the big fishes whenever, wherever.

“I have been willing to do whatever it takes to get to where I am right now. I promise you blood, sweat and everything that I have to give for my country and for my fans.”

[lawrence-related id=29424,29376,29152,29073,28530,29088]

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Errol Spence Jr. vs. Yordenis Ugas: date, time, how to watch, background

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Yordenis Ugas: date, time, how to watch, background.

Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas will fight to unify three of the four major welterweight titles on pay-per-view Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Errol Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) vs. Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, April 16
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Cost: $74.99
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Spence’s IBF and WBC, and Ugas’ WBA titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Spence No. 5, Ugas Honorable Mention
  • Odds: Spence 4½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Radzhab Butaev vs. Eimantas Stanionis, welterweights; Isaac Cruz vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa, lightweights; Brandun Lee vs. Zachary Ochoa, junior welterweights; Jose Valenzuela vs. Francisco Vargas, lightweights; Cody Crowley vs. Josesito Lopez, welterweights
  • Prediction: Spence UD
  • Background: Spence and Ugas will unify three of the four major welterweight titles barring a draw or other unforeseen circumstances, leaving Terence Crawford (WBO) as the only other beltholder. Spence will be fighting for only the second time in 2½ years because of health issues, first the injuries he suffered in a one-car crash in October 2019 and later a detached retina. Spence defeated veteran Danny Garcia by a wide decision in between the health problems, in December 2020. Spence, one of the most-talented fighters in the world, has said he’s now healthy and eager to get back to business. Ugas, reared in the Cuban amateur system, has been one of the best 147-pounders since 2016 but became a force in the division when he defeated Manny Pacquiao by a unanimous decision to claim his title in August of last year, his most-recent fight. Ugas was a late replacement after Spence had to pull out because of the detached retina. Pacquiao, 42 when he lost his belt, subsequently retired. Ugas can become a true star with a victory on Saturday.

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Errol Spence Jr. vs. Yordenis Ugas: date, time, how to watch, background

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Yordenis Ugas: date, time, how to watch, background.

Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas will fight to unify three of the four major welterweight titles on pay-per-view Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Errol Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) vs. Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, April 16
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Cost: $74.99
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Spence’s IBF and WBC, and Ugas’ WBA titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Spence No. 5, Ugas Honorable Mention
  • Odds: Spence 4½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Radzhab Butaev vs. Eimantas Stanionis, welterweights; Isaac Cruz vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa, lightweights; Brandun Lee vs. Zachary Ochoa, junior welterweights; Jose Valenzuela vs. Francisco Vargas, lightweights; Cody Crowley vs. Josesito Lopez, welterweights
  • Prediction: Spence UD
  • Background: Spence and Ugas will unify three of the four major welterweight titles barring a draw or other unforeseen circumstances, leaving Terence Crawford (WBO) as the only other beltholder. Spence will be fighting for only the second time in 2½ years because of health issues, first the injuries he suffered in a one-car crash in October 2019 and later a detached retina. Spence defeated veteran Danny Garcia by a wide decision in between the health problems, in December 2020. Spence, one of the most-talented fighters in the world, has said he’s now healthy and eager to get back to business. Ugas, reared in the Cuban amateur system, has been one of the best 147-pounders since 2016 but became a force in the division when he defeated Manny Pacquiao by a unanimous decision to claim his title in August of last year, his most-recent fight. Ugas was a late replacement after Spence had to pull out because of the detached retina. Pacquiao, 42 when he lost his belt, subsequently retired. Ugas can become a true star with a victory on Saturday.

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Isaac Cruz: ‘We’ll see if Yuriorkis (Gamboa) comes out to fight or dance’

Isaac Cruz: “We’ll see if Yuriorkis (Gamboa) comes out to fight or dance.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.

With the confidence that came from facing Gervonta Davis in a losing effort back in December, Isaac Cruz is ready to get back on the winning track.

“Pitbull” is scheduled to face former titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa in a 10-round 135-pound bout on the undercard of Saturday’s Errol Spence Jr.-Yordenis Ugas welterweight title-unification fight on pay-per-view.

The 23-year-old Mexican will be facing an experienced former Cuban Olympian, who will be looking for a victory that will catapult him once again into title contention.

“I will give my best to make it an entertaining fight,” Cruz said in an interview with DAZN News after finishing his training camp in Mexico City. “It’s up to Yuriorkis Gamboa if he comes out to fight or dance.

“We know that he is hardly going to present an aggressive fight, but we are preparing for any kind of fight that Gamboa can give us. Fighting, dancing, or any kind of trickery… we work for all scenarios.”

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Despite a 17-year age difference between the two, Cruz insisted that he is not overconfident and expects the best version of Gamboa to arrive.

“I expect a Yuriorkis with hunger, who will launch himself to recover his career,” Cruz said. “Let’s see if he really wants to continue [in boxing] or his time has passed because I’m in my moment, and I’m going to give my best. …

“I’m not going to give anything away to anyone. I’m going to give my best and conquer Dallas.”

But the goal does not end with a victory over Gamboa. Cruz said he would look for figures like Ryan Garcia, George Kambosos, Devin Haney and even Davis again after this fight.

“The result of the fight against Gervonta gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “… That’s why I have no problem looking for Ryan again as long as they stop with the circus, as they wanted to do everything through social networks.

“They should get in touch with my company (Manny Pacquiao Promotions). and I have no problem facing any fighter.”

Isaac Cruz: ‘We’ll see if Yuriorkis (Gamboa) comes out to fight or dance’

Isaac Cruz: “We’ll see if Yuriorkis (Gamboa) comes out to fight or dance.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.

With the confidence that came from facing Gervonta Davis in a losing effort back in December, Isaac Cruz is ready to get back on the winning track.

“Pitbull” is scheduled to face former titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa in a 10-round 135-pound bout on the undercard of Saturday’s Errol Spence Jr.-Yordenis Ugas welterweight title-unification fight on pay-per-view.

The 23-year-old Mexican will be facing an experienced former Cuban Olympian, who will be looking for a victory that will catapult him once again into title contention.

“I will give my best to make it an entertaining fight,” Cruz said in an interview with DAZN News after finishing his training camp in Mexico City. “It’s up to Yuriorkis Gamboa if he comes out to fight or dance.

“We know that he is hardly going to present an aggressive fight, but we are preparing for any kind of fight that Gamboa can give us. Fighting, dancing, or any kind of trickery… we work for all scenarios.”

[lawrence-related id=26608,26598,26548]

Despite a 17-year age difference between the two, Cruz insisted that he is not overconfident and expects the best version of Gamboa to arrive.

“I expect a Yuriorkis with hunger, who will launch himself to recover his career,” Cruz said. “Let’s see if he really wants to continue [in boxing] or his time has passed because I’m in my moment, and I’m going to give my best. …

“I’m not going to give anything away to anyone. I’m going to give my best and conquer Dallas.”

But the goal does not end with a victory over Gamboa. Cruz said he would look for figures like Ryan Garcia, George Kambosos, Devin Haney and even Davis again after this fight.

“The result of the fight against Gervonta gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “… That’s why I have no problem looking for Ryan again as long as they stop with the circus, as they wanted to do everything through social networks.

“They should get in touch with my company (Manny Pacquiao Promotions). and I have no problem facing any fighter.”

Errol Spence Jr.’s secret weapon, according to his trainer? His mind

Errol Spence Jr.’s secret weapon, according to his trainer? His mind.

If you asked a fan of Errol Spence to pinpoint his strengths as a fighter, he or she might be hard pressed to come up with an answer.

Spence is a gifted athlete with the ability to hurt any opponent but he’s not as fast as, say, Gary Russell Jr. or as powerful as Gervonta Davis. So what is it that has allowed him to remain unbeaten and climb the pound-for-pound lists?

His ring acumen, according to trainer Derrick James, who will be in Spence’s corner when he faces Yordenis Ugas in a pay-per-view welterweight title-unification bout Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

“His thinking ability, his ability to think on the fly, his ability to create scenarios, his ability to capitalize,” James said when he was asked what has made Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) successful. “It’s all mental, the way his brain works with his physicality, the way he can be in the right place at the right time or not be at the place the other person wants him to be.

“… A lot of people think he’s boring. They don’t see it because it’s so subtle, the small movements, the things he does. The thing you can’t see is that it’s mental.”

What about the physical part?

One question that hovers over Spence since his horrific car accident in October 2019 and detached retina last year is whether he’s the same fighter who beat the likes of Kell Brook, Mikey Garcia and Shawn Porter before the crash.

James said, “Yeah, from my perspective, he looks great,” but he then implied that Spence might not need to be 100% physically. It goes back to his mind.

“Even though you’re asking me about him physically, I’ll say that mentally he’s stronger,” James said. “Because even if physically there are things he can’t do, he won’t show it. It’s all mental. … If there’s something he’s having an issue with, you won’t see it.

“He will have worked through it mentally so that he’s not showing what might be ailing him.”

Spence, 32, also seems to be more focused than ever.

The accident and injury made it clear to him that everything he has worked for, everything he has, can be gone in an instant. He no longer takes anything for granted, which has had an impact on his discipline.

For example, he had the bad habit of ballooning to the size of a cruiserweight between fights. That’s not the case now. Spence has fought only once since the accident – a unanimous-decision victory over Danny Garcia in December 2020 – but he has been working out year round and changed his diet for the better.

James believes that will allow Spence to be at his physical peak – whatever that is – when he enters to ring to fight Ugas. His mind will take care of the rest.

“Floyd Mayweather used to go one, two years without fighting but his timing was always pristine because he trained for six months,” James said. “… That’s the true adage of boxing: You’re a boxer all the time, you train for a fight for a couple of months.

“You focus on being better, on working out all the kinks and everything else so that on fight night you see something perfect, you see something great.”

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Errol Spence Jr.’s secret weapon, according to his trainer? His mind

Errol Spence Jr.’s secret weapon, according to his trainer? His mind.

If you asked a fan of Errol Spence to pinpoint his strengths as a fighter, he or she might be hard pressed to come up with an answer.

Spence is a gifted athlete with the ability to hurt any opponent but he’s not as fast as, say, Gary Russell Jr. or as powerful as Gervonta Davis. So what is it that has allowed him to remain unbeaten and climb the pound-for-pound lists?

His ring acumen, according to trainer Derrick James, who will be in Spence’s corner when he faces Yordenis Ugas in a pay-per-view welterweight title-unification bout Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

“His thinking ability, his ability to think on the fly, his ability to create scenarios, his ability to capitalize,” James said when he was asked what has made Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) successful. “It’s all mental, the way his brain works with his physicality, the way he can be in the right place at the right time or not be at the place the other person wants him to be.

“… A lot of people think he’s boring. They don’t see it because it’s so subtle, the small movements, the things he does. The thing you can’t see is that it’s mental.”

What about the physical part?

One question that hovers over Spence since his horrific car accident in October 2019 and detached retina last year is whether he’s the same fighter who beat the likes of Kell Brook, Mikey Garcia and Shawn Porter before the crash.

James said, “Yeah, from my perspective, he looks great,” but he then implied that Spence might not need to be 100% physically. It goes back to his mind.

“Even though you’re asking me about him physically, I’ll say that mentally he’s stronger,” James said. “Because even if physically there are things he can’t do, he won’t show it. It’s all mental. … If there’s something he’s having an issue with, you won’t see it.

“He will have worked through it mentally so that he’s not showing what might be ailing him.”

Spence, 32, also seems to be more focused than ever.

The accident and injury made it clear to him that everything he has worked for, everything he has, can be gone in an instant. He no longer takes anything for granted, which has had an impact on his discipline.

For example, he had the bad habit of ballooning to the size of a cruiserweight between fights. That’s not the case now. Spence has fought only once since the accident – a unanimous-decision victory over Danny Garcia in December 2020 – but he has been working out year round and changed his diet for the better.

James believes that will allow Spence to be at his physical peak – whatever that is – when he enters to ring to fight Ugas. His mind will take care of the rest.

“Floyd Mayweather used to go one, two years without fighting but his timing was always pristine because he trained for six months,” James said. “… That’s the true adage of boxing: You’re a boxer all the time, you train for a fight for a couple of months.

“You focus on being better, on working out all the kinks and everything else so that on fight night you see something perfect, you see something great.”

[lawrence-related id=29152,29073,28530,29088]

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