By Dan Ambrose: Yordenis Ugas and Manny Pacquiao made their grand arrivals in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday for Saturday’s fight at the T-Mobile Arena.
(Photo Credit: Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions)
WBA welterweight champion Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) is really looking forward to stepping foot inside the ring to give the fans a great show.
The talented Cuban, who was elevated to the ‘Super Champion by the World Boxing Association earlier this year, says it’ll be an honor to send Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) into retirement.
Yordenis has inherited the retirement mission from Errol Spence Jr, as he was supposed to be the one to send the 42-year-old Pacquiao packing.
Spence’s eye injury last week resulted in him pulling out of the fight and being replaced by Ugas.
Ugas ready to do the job on Manny
“This is going to be a great fight between me and Manny Pacquiao,” said Ugas at the Grand Arrival in Las Vegas on Tuesday. “I’m very excited for Saturday night.
“I’m so honored to be fighting a legend like Manny Pacquiao. I am really looking forward to stepping inside the ring on Saturday night.
“It means a lot for me to be able to fight Manny Pacquiao, and if this is Pacquiao’s last time, he’s going to fight someone with the caliber of me.
“We’re going to put on a great fight for the fans around the world. I’m going to give my best efforts.
“I’m going to do what I have been doing over the course of this run and do it a little bit better against someone like Manny Pacquiao,” said Ugas.
Pacquiao is still upset about being stripped of his WBA title by the sanctioning body after 20 months of inactivity. It’s unclear why it bothers Pacquiao so much that he was stripped.
Sanctioning bodies are supposed to make sure their champions defend the titles yearly, and Pacquiao was 20 months in without defending the WBA belt he won from Keith Thurman in July 2019.
Yordenis will be proud to retire Pacquiao
“It would mean a lot for me because if I am the final guy that steps foot inside the ring with Manny Pacquiao, I want to make sure that
“I brought everything and got the best out of him. I know together we will make a great fight,” said Ugas when asked what it’ll mean to him to retire Manny Pacquiao.
“I’m going to go out there and fight my hardest,” said Ugas. “I don’t think anybody has the advantage because he was preparing for a southpaw, and I was preparing for a conventional fighter.
“We’ve had over ten days to prepare, and I don’t think anyone has the advantage on Saturday. We just have to come in to do the work necessary in the ring to get the victory,” Ugas said.
It’s not going to make Spence too happy if Ugas is the one to send Pacquiao into retirement by beating him on Saturday.
Spence hoped to come back from his eye surgery and face Pacquiao as soon as he was cleared.
Yordenis highly motivated
“I have a lot of motivation going into this fight,” said Ugas. I’ve taken fights on short notice against undefeated fighters.
“The only difference here is that I’m taking on someone of the caliber of Manny Pacquiao. I’m very excited, and I feel I am ready for this fight against Pacquiao on Saturday.
“I’m always looking for the best fights, and I’m going to be looking to fight at the distance that I feel is advantageous for me. But I know what Pacquiao brings, he comes forward, and I’m going to make sure I use the proper tactics to get the victory,” said Ugas.
Motivation is the key for Ugas, as he’s got the talent to do the job on Pacquiao. he just has to make sure he throws enough punches for him either win a decision or knock him out.