EXUDING quiet confidence, Manny Pacquiao looked amused but at the same time keen and excited in his bid to recapture his title from World Boxing Association super welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas of Cuba on Aug. 21 (Aug. 22 in Manila) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“Ugás is a champion because they (WBA) gave him my belt. Now, we have to settle it inside the ring,” Pacquiao said in an online press conference to drum up interest in the title fight.
“I think this fight will define who really holds the belts. It happened this way so this is good. I’m so excited by this fight. Let’s finish this fight and see who is (the real) title holder,” Pacquiao said.
The WBAstripped him of the championship in January for not fighting in over a year. This means Pacquiao is vying for the same strap that he won by beating erstwhile undefeated Keith Thurman by split decision on July 20, 2019 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
But he hasn’t fought since then as he focused his attention on his duties as a senator while the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world.
As the No. 1 contender in the division, Ugas, who took the WBA “regular” welterweight belt by beating American Abel Ramos in September 2020, was elevated by the Panama-based world boxing body as the super welterweight champion while Pacman was declared as a “champion in recess.”
In a surprise twist of events, the former Beijing Olympic bronze medalist now makes his first title defense against Pacquiao, whose original foe for the Aug. 21 fight, undefeated American Errol Spence Jr., withdrew last Wednesday due to an eye injury.
Spence, who holds both the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council welterweight belt, was found to have a detached left retina last Monday during a routine medical exam required by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
He underwent surgery to repair the eye in his hometown of Dallas, Texas yesterday, based on a picture he posted on his Instagram account.
This paved the way for Ugas, who was originally set to defend his title in the Pacquiao-Spence undercard against Argentina’s Fabian Maidana, to join Pacquiao as the main attraction of what promises to be an intriguing title encounter.
Although admitting he is the underdog, Ugas, 35, who has won 26 fights, 12 by knockout, against four losses, was unfazed by the formidable reputation of his foe, who sports a record of 62 wins (39 KOs) against seven defeats and two draws.
“Well look, I know that Pacquiao is the favorite. But the same time, I’m a champion,” the Cuban said through an interpreter. “This means the world to me. I am fighting not only for my country but also for my legacy. For my own story.
“I am going to step up to the ring and give my all. I am going to leave it all inside the ring.
And whatever happens, that’s going to be my goal. Leave it all out there.”
Despite Pacquiao’s the 25-month layoff, Ugas refused to take him lightly, saying: I am expecting the best Manny Pacquiao to be out there in the ring. I am prepared to face the best to be the best.
“Whoever wins on Saturday night will be the true WBA champion. No question about it.”
Pacquiao said he would not underestimate his opponent, who is the 1-3 underdog.
“What I can say is that this is not going to be an easy fight. In the end, I want to win the belts. I’m so excited for this championship fight and I don’t care if I’m the challenger or champion coming into it,” he said.
He could not help but smile when it was pointed that, as the Cuban’s challenger, he would breakhis own record as the oldest world welterweight champion at 42 should he prevail.
“That’s very good because I myself will be breaking my own record. I like that, making history,” said Pacquiao.
