Philippines, 23 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Why Ugas is called 54 Miracles


PhilBoxing.com




LAS VEGAS. It’s an unusual moniker but WBA welterweight super champion Yordenis Ugas likes to be called 54 Miracles. “My best friend (Aroldis Chapman) wears No. 54 for the New York Yankees so I wear it every time I fight and Milagros (Spanish for miracles) is my mother’s name,” said Ugas. “The last time I visited Cuba was in 2018. My mother, godparents and other family members still live there. I’m dedicating my fight against (Manny) Pacquiao to my mother, son, family and to the Cuban people who continue to fight for their freedom every day.”

Ugas was an amateur sensation who repeatedly attempted to defect from Cuba and was jailed for six unsuccessful tries until finally landing in Miami in 2010. Professional boxing is prohibited in Cuba so Ugas migrated to the US to pursue a career in the ring. He stakes his crown against Pacquiao at the T-Mobile Arena here tomorrow night (Sunday morning, Manila time).

****

Johnny Elorde and wife Liza were at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles to watch Pacquiao’s final sparring session, a four-rounder with Abie Lopez, last Saturday. “Laro-laro lang tapos biglang banat sa dulo ng bawa’t round,” said Elorde. “Si Ugas, mabagal pero mabigat ang suntok. May jab pero walang footwork. Malaki siya kaya dapat mag-ingat si Manny. Madiin sumuntok at sa boxing, may lucky punch. Bukul-bukol ang katawan ni Ugas. ‘Di natin pa alam kung kaya niya ang suntok ni Manny.”

From what Pacquiao has shown in training, he hasn’t skipped a beat. “No change,” said Elorde. “Kung anong kilos ni Manny dati, ‘yon pa rin ngayon. Mabilis at malakas. Magandang laban ‘to. Mananalo si Manny, pwede by knockout.”

Elorde said Pacquiao still managed to attend online classes for his Master in Business Administration course from 6 to 9 at night every Friday while in camp in Los Angeles. Pacquiao was set to enroll at Georgetown University but the pandemic got in the way. Most of his classmates are lawyers and fiscals also taking the Philippine Christian University post-graduate course. “Very intelligent si Manny,” said Elorde. “He has a fantastic memory and is able to memorize easily. His comprehension is also very good, he understands things quickly.”

****

At the Wild Card Gym, Freddie Roach and his pet dog Minne or short for Minnehaha, are inseparable except when he enters the ring to put up the mitts and strap his body protector on. The dog is a Schipperke of Belgian origin, like a miniature sheepdog. Minnehaha is a fictional native American woman from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1855 poem “The Song of Hiawatha.”

“Minne was actually my mom’s dog so when she passed in 2017, I took care of her,” said Roach. His mother Barbara was the first female boxing judge in Massachusetts and died at the age of 82. She used to drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back with Minne as her companion. Now, Roach is attached to the six-year-old dog who’s become the mascot at the famous gym.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • EUBANK JR VS. BENN GRAND ARRIVALS QUOTES
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • Headlining again at home a dream come true for 16-0-1 junior middleweight Anthony Velasquez
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • Amateur Standout Stephanie Simon Signs with Split-T Boxing Management
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • The Past Week in Action 21 April 2025: Fundora KOs Badillo, Retains Undisputed Belts; Smith UD Germain; Kovalev Returns with a Win
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Bantamweight Anthony Garnica Scores TKO Against Aston Palicte to Remain Undefeated
    , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Higher Seeds New York, Denver Fall in Playoffs Second Games to Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Young Gildo: The Baguio Bearcat
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Female Amateur Boxing Star Sar’ai Brown-El Signs with Split-T Management
    , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Apolinario to fight Hu in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Warriors Shoot Down Rockets, 95-85 as Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder Take Care of Business
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing International Open Finalized on Saturday
    , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.