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What’s the old song line about not getting what we want but still getting what we need?
Despite the loss of Errol Spence-Manny Pacquiao, what fans needed on short notice was for Pacquiao not to lose a precious date late in his career and for the date to be filled with a serious opponent (Fox PPV, 8 PM EST)
Yordenis Ugas is in just about everyone’s welterweight top ten. In most, he’s top five largely on the strength of a debatable loss to Shawn Porter and no other defeats since May 2016.
This is a serious opponent.
It’s also a chance for Pacquiao to pick up another alphabet title in a career full of those and lineal crowns dating back nearly 23 years. Is this one more for the ledger or a closing of the Pacquiao account?
Let’s get into it.
Stats and Stakes
Yordenis Ugas
Age: 35
Title: WBA Welterweight (2021-Present, 1st Attempted Defense)*
Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’9
Weight: 147 lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Miami, Florida (Hails from Cuba)
Record: 26-4, 12 KO
Press Rankings: #4 (TBRB), #5 (BoxRec, Ring), #6 (ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 0-1 (1-1 including WBA sub-title fights)
Last Five Opponents: 140-11-8 (.906)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Shawn Porter L12
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Omar Figueroa UD12
Vs.
Manny Pacquiao
Age: 42
Title: None
Previous Titles: Lineal/WBC World Flyweight (1998-99, 1 Defense); IBF Super Bantamweight 2001-03, 4 Defenses); Lineal/Ring World Featherweight (2003-05, 2 Defenses); Lineal/Ring/WBC World Jr. Lightweight (2008); WBC Lightweight (2008-09); Lineal/Ring World Jr. Welterweight (2009-10); WBC Light Middleweight (2010); WBO Welterweight, (2009-12, 3 Defenses; 2014-15, 1 Defense; 2016-17, 1 Defense); TBRB Welterweight (2016; Retired); WBA Welterweight (2019-21)
Height: 5’5 ½
Weight: 146 lbs.
Stance: Southpaw
Hails from: General Santos City, Cotabato del Sur, Philippines
Record: 62-7-2, 39 KO, 3 KOBY
Press Rankings: #3 (Ring, ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 21-4-2, 11 KO, 1 KOBY (including Lineal, Ring, or TBRB title Fights); 23-4-2, 12 KO, 1 KOBY (including WBA sub-title fights)
Last Five Opponents: 144-8-2 (.942)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Chatchai Sasakul KO8; Lehlo Ledwaba TKO6; Agapito Sanchez Tech. Draw 6, Marco Antonio Barrera TKO11, UD12; Juan Manuel Marquez D12, SD12, MD12, KO by 6; Erik Morales L12, TKO10, KO3; Oscar Larios UD12; Jorge Solis KO8; David Diaz TKO9; Oscar De La Hoya RTD8; Ricky Hatton KO2; Miguel Cotto TKO12; Joshua Clottey UD12; Shane Mosley UD12; Timothy Bradley L12, UD12, UD12; Brandon Rios UD12; Chris Algieri UD12; Floyd Mayweather L12; Jesse Vargas UD12; Lucas Matthysse TKO7; Adrien Broner UD12; Keith Thurman SD12
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Medgoen Singsurat TKO by 3; Jorge Eliecer Julio TKO2; Antonio Margarito UD12; Jeff Horn L12
The Case for Ugas: Ugas is younger while not being young. He might feel like he is anyways, caught in the whirlwind of a fight he couldn’t have predicted he’d be in with the chance of a lifetime on his hands. Ugas, when he employs it, has good range. Ugas holds a height and length edge over a Pacquiao who was more economical offensively in the last few appearances he had. While Ugas isn’t blazing fast, his timing is good. If he can keep Pacquiao at the end of his punches, the older man could struggle. Ugas is also an underrated body puncher with the chance to wear on the older man. There is danger there, as it will give openings to Pacquiao. It will be up to Ugas to vary his attack enough to unsettle the veteran and put rounds in the bank.
The Case for Pacquiao: The best versions of Pacquiao would be a lot for Ugas. At peak, the volume and speed of Pacquiao would have been an issue. Even the slowed down version has been too much for several solid foes since the loss to Mayweather in 2015, including Thurman. Pacquiao early may still have a first step edge on Ugas but it’s hard to say. 42-year old fighters coming off a two-year layoff…how does one handicap that? This is a more winnable fight for Pacquiao than Spence would have been but how much more is to be determined. There are a lot of unknowns here we won’t have a pulse on until we see what Pacquiao has in real time. Assuming it’s a close proximity to the Thurman fight, a fast start and patience are Pacquiao’s allies here. Pacquiao’s experience edge is pronounced. If Ugas comes to him, Pacquiao being smaller could mean Ugas coming down to Pacquiao’s left. Pacquiao’s footwork is still going to be an asset; if he can land bursts and get out, it could frustrate Ugas and catch the judge’s eyes.
The Pick: Since the last time Pacquiao was in the ring, in July 2019, Ugas has fought only twice but that’s still two more fights to keep his tools sharp than an aging Pacquiao had. A Pacquiao win might be the only thing to get a bigger smile from sports pop culture than the return of CM Punk this weekend. It’s highly possible and betting odds indicate Pacquiao is expected to win. The thinking here is Ugas hasn’t had enough time to be frazzled by the moment and his body attack is going to be a problem for Pacquiao in the second half. Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest fighters ever to lace gloves but notable wins for fighters in their forties stand out for a reason. They aren’t common and in what is almost always one of the best classes in boxing, welterweight, it’s a tall order. The pick is Ugas by decision.
Rold Picks 2021: 31-10
*Ugas won a WBA sub-title in 2020 and was elevated to their primary titlist slot in January 2021 when Pacquiao was stripped for inactivity.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]