Yordenis Ugas upset with WBA ordering 4-fighter tournament

Image: Yordenis Ugas upset with WBA ordering 4-fighter tournament
By Boxing News - 10/19/2021 - Comments

By Huck Allen: WBA ‘Super World’ welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas is upset with the World Boxing Association for them ordering him to participate in a 4-fighter tournament to consolidate the titles at 147.

Ugas sees it as “disrespectful” that the WBA has ordered him to fight in a tournament, as it’ll get in the way of him taking part in a unification match. According to Ugas, the WBA will make a ruling on his complaints to them today.

The money that Ugas will make taking part in the WBA’s tourney pales compared to what he would make if he were to face Errol Spence Jr or Terence Crawford in a unification fight at 147.

Spence is out of action now with an eye injury he suffered recently during training. It’s unknown when he’ll be medically cleared to return to the ring, but it won’t happen soon.

Also, Ugas can’t say that he’s fighting WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford in a unification because he’s currently scheduled to defend against Shawn Porter next month on November 20th.

Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) says he wants to face IBF/WBC welterweight champion Spence Jr. in a unification fight, but he can’t do that if he’s taking part in the WBA’s 4-fighter tournament.

Ugas will need to fight twice to win the tournament, keeping him busy until March of 2022.

Image: Yordenis Ugas upset with WBA ordering 4-fighter tournament

While Ugas has to be seen as the clear favorite to win the 4-fighter  tournament, he doesn’t like the idea of having to fight twice to hold onto his title.

If Spence or Crawford were part of the 4-fighter WBA 147-lb tournament, Ugas would likely have no issues. Unfortunately, those fighters aren’t part of the tourney, and the competing fighters aren’t big names.

Last month, the WBA ordered the talented Yordenis, 35, to face unbeaten #1 contender Eimantas Stanionis (13-0, 9 KOs) next within four months [119 days]. In the WBA’s other move, they ordered WBA ‘regular’ welterweight champion Jamal James (27-1, 12 KOs) to face #5 Radzhab Butaev (13-0, 10 KOs) in his next fight.

The winners of the Ugas vs. Stanionis and James vs. Butaev fights will meet in March 2022, with the victor of that fight will be the new solitary WBA champion at 147.

“Which super champ has a mandatory fight imposed? Even though he is on his way to a unification of 3 belts, every fighter’s dream is to be a champion, then to unify, and that is my intention that I think I have won.

“My team and I will reach the last consequences for our rights,” said Ugas @YordenisUgas. “#SpenceUgas fight between two of the world’s best welterweights.

“Tomorrow is the decision of the WBA on my case of super champ of the organization,” said Ugas.

It’s unlikely the WBA will agree to let Ugas bypass their four-fighter tournament because none of the champions at 147 are free to fight him at this time.

Ugas recently defeated superstar Manny Pacquiao by a 12 round unanimous decision last summer on August 21st in a pay-per-view fight.

In the immediate aftermath of the fight, the 42-year-old Pacquiao spoke of wanting a rematch with Ugas to avenge his defeat. However, Pacquiao later changed his mind and opted to retire to run for the Philippines’ presidency.

Ugas would have made a lot of money in a rematch with Pacquiao, and it’s going to be a massive disappointment for him to see that fight not happening.