MANILA – American boxer Errol Spence Jr. backed out from his match against Manny Pacquiao after sustaining an eye injury in training. With this, the Filipino slugger will face a new opponent next week at the T. Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Pacquiao said he will battle Cuban Yordenis Ugas, with the latter’s World Boxing Association (WBA) world welterweight super championship title on the line. Ugas notched the WBA welterweight champion belt after the organization stripped Pacquiao of the title due to inactivity.
“I have agreed to fight Yordenis Ugas on August 21 for the WBA welterweight super championship. The proper way and the only way to win a world title is inside the ring,” according to Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao captured the WBA championship when he ousted Keith Thurman via split decision in 2019 but has not defended the title due to the ongoing health pandemic.
Ubas, for his part, is honored for the opportunity to face Pacquiao and is looking to prove to the eight-division world boxing champion that he deserves the WBA diadem.
“I am more than ready to take on this challenge,’’ Ugas said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight. I know together (with my coach Ismael Salas), we will come up with a masterful game plan to combat anything Manny will bring to the ring.”
“Everyone knows my story about how I came to America to follow my dreams of becoming a world champion, and now it’s time to stamp my legacy with a victory, as one of the best Cuban fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves,” he added.
On the other hand, Spence, in his statement released by boxing promotions PBC on Wednesday, stated that he suffered a torn retina that requires immediate surgery, forcing him to back out from his encounter with Pacquiao.
“I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao,” he said. “I was excited about the fight and the event. Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery on it as soon as possible.”/PN
