IN a big letdown to ring fans everywhere, unbeaten world welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. has withdrawn from his Aug. 21 title clash with Filipino challenger Manny Pacquiao due to an eye injury that needed immediate surgery.
Veteran ring writer Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports wrote in an article posted on the American website yesterday that “a routine pre-fight eye exam ordered by the Nevada Athletic Commission revealed that Spence has a torn retina in his left eye.
“He left Las Vegas on Tuesday to return home to Dallas. He will undergo surgery there and is expected to make a full recovery,” Iole said.
To salvage the event scheduled at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, co-promoters Premier Boxing Champions, TGB Promotions and Fox Sports announced that Cuban Yordenis Ugas, the World Boxing Association super welterweight champ, will replace Spence as Pacquiao’s foe.
“I have agreed to fight Yordenis Ugas on Aug. 21 for the WBA welterweight super championship. The proper way and the only way to win a world title is inside the ring,” Pacquiao said, adding: “I know Youdenis Ugas is a good and formidable fighter and on Aug. 21, only one fighter will emerge from the ring as the WBA welterweight champion.”
“I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao on Aug. 21,” Spence, the reigning World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight champion, said.
“I was excited about the fight and the event,” he added. “Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery ASAP and that there was no way I could fight with my eye in that condition.
“I’d like to apologize to everyone. You know I’ll be back soon. We’ve come back from worse.”
Pacquiao, 42, commiserated with Spence, saying: “First and foremost, 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.”
Pacquiao will find it ironic facing the Cuban, 35, a 2005 world amateur lightweight champion and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games bronze medalist, who sports a record of 26 wins, 12 by knockout, and four losses.
The Cuban was promoted early this year by the Panama-based world boxing body as the WBA super welterweight champ, stripping the title from Pacquiao due to his inactivity of over a year and declared him as a “champion in recess.”
Pacquiao has not fought for nearly two years since wresting the WBA super welterweight belt from erstwhile undefeated Keith Thurman via a split decision win on July 20, 2019 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Ugas, who was set to fight Fabian Maidana in the Spence-Pacquiao undercard, was grateful for the chance to battle the popular ring icon, who has 62 wins (37 KOs), seven losses and two draws.
“It’s an honor to fight the great multiple division world championManny Pacquiaoas I am more than ready to take on this challenge,” said Ugas. “I have tremendous amount of respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight.
“I’ve been in camp working hard with my coach Ismael Salas and I know together we will come up with a masterful game plan anything Manny will bring to the ring.”
The Cuban last fought on Sept. 6, 2020, earning a split decision win over American Abel Ramos to gain the WBA “regular” welterweight belt.
Although the odds were not out yet, Pacquiao is tipped to prevail over Yugas, who many see as a less formidable foe compared to Spence.
MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons told Iole that “Pacquiao is open to all options after the Ugas fight.”
“Both Gibbons and trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao had been on point and looking as good as he had in a while,” Iole wrote. — With Raymond Africa
