WBA belt strip will motivate ‘PacMan’ - Roach


Image copyright: Getty Images
 

Manny Pacquiao v Yordenis Ugas

WBA (Super) Welterweight Championship

T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States
22 August 2021
Main card starts at 03:00 CAT

Manny Pacquiao will have a “big incentive” when he faces Yordenis Ugas in a bout for the WBA (Super) Welterweight Championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, United States on the morning of Sunday 22 August 2021.

Pacquiao, the only eight-division world champion in boxing history, has not been inside the ring competitively since a slit decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019 to claim the WBA Super title. This bout was scheduled to be against IBF and WBC Welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr, but he was forced to withdraw due to an eye injury.

Instead he will come up against Ugas, who is the current holder of the Super title, having been promoted from Regular Welterweight Champion earlier this year when the WBA stripped Pacquiao of the belt for inactivity.

Cuban Boxer Yordenis Ugas
Image copyright: Getty Images

The WBA’s actions will be a major motivation for ‘PacMan’, according to his revered coach Freddie Roach: “There will be a lot of fireworks in this one. It’s a fight, that’s for sure and the fact that Manny had the world title belt he earned by beating Keith Thurman given to Ugas without any warning or due process has given Manny a big incentive to really perform on August [22]. I think he’s really p***ed at this guy!”

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Changing opponents so late in the game makes life tough for the 42-year-old Pacquiao, but Roach is confident his fighter will be fully prepared.

“Training camp injuries are part of the territory in boxing, though you hate to see a severe injury like the one Errol suffered happen,” said Roach. “In the 20 years Manny and I have worked together, he has never had an injury that postponed or cancelled a fight.

American boxer Errol Spence Jr.
Image copyright: Getty Images

“That is amazing and a testament to Manny’s skills and conditioning.  I have had to deal with opponent changes before but never this close to a fight. Though I am concerned, I’m not too concerned. Manny adjusts to any situation.”

Pacquiao was last in action in July 2019, defeating Keith Thurman via split decision, while Ugas’ last fight was a split decision win over Abel Ramos in September last year.
 

Tale of the tape


Manny Pacquiao

Nickname: PacMan
Nationality: Filipino
Age: 42
Record: 62-7-2 (39 KO)
Height: 168 cm
Reach: 170cm
Stance: Southpaw
- Only eight-division world champion in boxing history
- Winner of 12 major world titles


Yordenis Ugas

Nickname: 54 Milagros
Nationality: Cuban
Age: 35
Record: 26-4 (12 KO)
Height: 175cm
Reach: 175cm
Stance: Orthodox
- Current WBA (Super) Welterweight champion
- Former lightweight amateur world champion
 

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Published: 08/19/2021