MANILA – Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas is open to face Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao anew following the former’s unanimous decision win over the weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Two hundred percent (I am willing to have a rematch with him). He deserves a rematch. Manny’s a great legend, a great fighter,” Ugas said in a post-match press conference.
“Manny Pacquiao might be in his 40s, but he gave me a very good fight,” he added.
Ugas, a last-minute replacement for Errol Spence Jr., was ecstatic to have defeated the eight-division world boxing champion, proving that he owns the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) welterweight title belt.
While Ugas hopes to fight Pacquiao again, the Filipino slugger has hinted at retirement to focus on other concerns, such as his political intentions for the 2022 national elections.
“In the future, you might not see Manny Pacquiao again to fight in the ring. I don’t know, but for how many decades, I’m so happy with what I’ve done in boxing,” the boxing pride from Sarangani said.
“I contributed a record in boxing also and to make boxing to the top. And especially bring honor to my country, the Filipino people,” he added.
Pacquiao claimed that his age had a role in his one-sided loss to Ugas, as he was unable to keep up with his much younger Cuban opponent’s speed and precision in their 12-round fight.
“My two legs are cramping. That’s why I cannot move around. Early days I can outbox him. But this time around, it’s like my two legs are tight and hurting from the second to the 12th round. But I’m not making an excuse,” the boxer added./PN
