After more than two years of inactivity, 42-year-old Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) will face Yordenis Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) for the WBA welterweight championship on Saturday. in the evening at the T-Mobile Arena. in Paradise, Nevada.
Pacquiao, the only eight-division champion in boxing history, will be looking to claim a world title against Ugas, who received the (super) WBA title in January. Pacquiao retained the title after his split decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019 but was stripped of it in January due to inactivity.
Pacquiao was initially scheduled to fight WBC and IBF champion, Errol Spence Jr., although Spence withdrew from the fight on August 10 due to a retinal tear in his left eye. Ugas, who was scheduled to fight Fabian Maidana in the co-main event for the Pacquiao / Spence undercard, agreed to fight Pacquiao on August 10.
Although this fight is perceived as less intriguing to the general public, Spence is ranked the # 4 pound-for-pound fighter by ESPN and Pacquiao is one of the best fighters ever, Ugas will not be an easy opponent to convince. He has won 11 of his last 12 fights, and his only loss came controversially against former WBC champion Shawn Porter in March 2019.
Ugas defeated Abel Ramos by split decision in September 2020 to win the WBA (regular) title before being promoted to super champion in January.
The main card for the Pacquiao vs. Ugas fight will begin at 9 p.m. The main event is not expected to start until midnight ET. Fight cards generally don’t fit for quicker fights earlier in the night, so expect the fighters to get their ring walking then.
How to watch Pacquiao vs Ugas
Live stream: Fox Sports App and FoxSports.com
You will be able to stream Pacquiao vs. Ugas live on the Fox Sports App and FoxSports.com.
Where will Pacquiao vs Ugas take place?
For the first time in his career, Pacquiao will fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. Pacquiao has had several of his biggest fights at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, including his most recent win over Thurman, and this will be the 22nd fight of his career in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.
Ugas will fight at the T-Mobile Arena for the second time in his career and in the Las Vegas area for the sixth time.
Controversy arose between the two fighters in January, when Ugas was awarded the WBA (super) welterweight title after Pacquiao had not fought since his victory over Thurman in July 2019. Pacquiao applied to be reinstated as the WBA champion in July but was denied by the organization.
Pacquiao recently commented on the WBA decision and said that his title was “handed over” to Ugas rather than awarded.
“This is not how you become a champion,” Pacquiao told reporters. “You earn it by winning it in the ring. We will fight for the title. That is the correct way to crown a champion. ”
Responding to Pacquiao’s stance, Ugas said in an interview with Fighthype that he “absolutely” won his belt during his championship fight against Ramos, but that Saturday will be a “completely different fight.”
“I have to respect it until the bell rings, and then all of that goes out the window,” Ugas said.
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