FOR better or for worse, sports fans apparently have not seen the last of Manny Pacquiao inthe ring.
Pacquiao told Lance Pugmire of the Athletic yesterday (Wednesday in Manila) that he is open to a rematch with reigning World Boxing Association super welterweight champion YordenisUgas — if the Cuban lives up to his word.
Pacquiao, who signed a rematch clause with Ugas, said it would be easy to convince Premier Boxing Champions chief Al Haymon, who promoted the recent fight in collaboration with Fox Sports, in setting up another encounter with Ugas in January.
“Yes, I can come back in January. I will see about it,” he said. “I know I can rematch (sic) him (Ugas) if I want (sic). I just need to tell Al Haymon. That would be no problem. I will think about it because I can’t believe that one of the easiest opponents I ever faced did that (to me).”
A January fight date would make him the subject of conversation and news headlines once again without being charged of politicking, although it would also be a double-edged sword since his stock is bound to plummet should he lose to Ugas the second time around.
Performing in the biggest fight of his life, the crafty and counterpunching Cuban outwitted the seemingly overconfident Filipino favorite, carving out a masterful unanimous decision win last Sunday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
After the fight, Pacquiao, whose face was badly battered by the punishment he received and required stitches for deep cuts in both eyes, announced at the post-fight conference he was unsure if he would suit up again and was seriously thinking of retirement.
But the fighting senator sung a different tune in the story written by Pugmire, a former Los Angeles Times sportswriter who has covered Pacquiao’s biggest fights in the US, belittling the ability of the Cuban.
“In my entire career, Ugas was one of the easiest opponents. Ugas had only one style and I should’ve been able to easily move away…you’ve seen how I’ve moved in my fight before,” Pacquiao, 42, said. “I couldn’t move in this fight. My legs just stopped.”
The setback was seen as a huge blow not only to the Pinoy ring icon’s otherwise sterling professional career but also to his reported ambitions to run for president in the 2022 national polls.
Ugas said at the post-match press conference in Las Vegas that he is willing to give Pacquiao a rematch, adding: “Two-hundred percent. You know Manny’s a great legend, a great fighter. If he wants a rematch no question about it. You know, a legend like that deserves it.”
