Errol Spence reacts to Pacquiao loss to Ugas

By Boxing News - 08/22/2021 - Comments

By Sean Jones: Errol Spence Jr. reacted to Manny Pacquiao’s disappointing 12 round unanimous decision loss to WBA Super World welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas on Saturday night by posting social media to let his boxing fans know how unhappy he is at the news.

The loss for Pacquiao could permanently ruin Spence’s plans on fighting him, particularly if the Filipino star chooses to retire. If Pacquiao fights Yordenis again, it’s questionable whether he’ll beat him.

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It might be better for Pacquiao to walk away from the loss, and set up the fight with Spence anyway, hoping that some of the boxing public will still want to see them fight.

Manny didn’t have it tonight physically, as his legs looked like they were stuck in quick-drying cement the entire fight. Additionally, Pacquiao’s reflexes looked rusty from his two years of inactivity since his last fight in July 2019.

That enabled Ugas to hit Pacquiao with big counter shots the entire contest, catching him coming and going. You could see Pacquiao shifting gears, changing game plans repeatedly, but nothing he tried worked with any real success.

Perhaps the best thing that Pacquiao attempted was to throw many shots, but Yordenis was blocking them well with his guard and counting with big power.

Image: Errol Spence reacts to Pacquiao loss to Ugas

The scores indicated how decisive the win was for Ugas, with the judges scoring it: 115-113, 116-112, and 116-112. This writer thinks the 116-112 score was more indicative of what happened inside the ring tonight, with Yordenis getting the better of Pacquiao, winning 8 rounds to 4.

Pacquiao’s loss to Ugas essentially derails any chances of a fight between IBF/WBC welterweight champion Spence.

If Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) still wants to fight Spence, there’s only one option. The Filipino star must avenge his loss to Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) first and then set up a fight with Spence.

Errol has his left eye injury that will need time to heal, so he’s not going to be available to fight Pacquiao for six to twelve months.

It could be as long as a year before Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) is ready to return to the ring. In the meantime, Pacquiao can set up a rematch with Ugas and try to avenge the loss.

Image: Errol Spence reacts to Pacquiao loss to Ugas

“Good s*** @YordenisUgas,” said Spence on Twitter.

Unless Errol wants to fight Ugas, he’s pretty much going to have to wait until Pacquiao avenges his loss. At this point, Pacquiao isn’t certain whether he’ll continue his career. He says going to think it over.

Pacquiao’s post-fight comments

“I don’t know. Let me rest first and relax and make the decision if I’m going to continue to fight or

“I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments to Ugas’ style. I think that’s the problem for me,” said Pacquiao after the fight.

“I didn’t make the adjustments right away, and my legs were tight. Yeah, my legs were so tight. That’s why it’s hard to move.

Image: Errol Spence reacts to Pacquiao loss to Ugas

“I’m sorry I lost tonight. I did my best. I apologize,” said Pacquiao. “I hope in my more than 20 years in boxing; I made your enjoyment and happiness in my career.

“That’s boxing. I congratulate my opponent Yordenis Ugas for making it tough tonight and winning tonight. That’s boxing,” said Pacquiao in his post-fight reaction to his loss to Yordenis.

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