Philippines, 12 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Thumbs down on Ugas rematch


PhilBoxing.com



Manny Pacquiao (R) with Sean Gibbons (L).

MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said yesterday he’ll advise Manny Pacquiao against doing a rematch with WBA welterweight super champion Yordenis Ugas despite the Senator recently considering a second encounter in January next year.

If Pacquiao will fight one last time, Gibbons said he’d prefer a gala type of celebration without going through the rigors of a grueling camp and a bruising battle in the ring. “The Senator needs a proper send-off, a tribute to a long, beautiful and illustrious Hall of Fame career against a solid opponent whom he should pound to the ground,” said Gibbons. “It should be like a big gala type, a celebration of the Senator’s career.”

As for Ugas, Gibbons said he wouldn’t be the kind of opponent for a gala. “We never ever need to see Ugas again,” he said. “In his prime, the Senator would’ve spanked Ugas and it would’ve been like Ugas fighting three Manny Pacquiaos at the same time because no way he could’ve kept up with his speed and movement.”

But Pacquiao may think differently. He said cramps limited his mobility and what was an even fight up to the sixth round turned out to be an upset win by the Cuban. Buboy Fernandez said it wouldn’t be right to close Pacquiao’s career with a loss to Ugas so he’d like a rematch to settle things but next time, there should be no more cramping. “I can come back in January, I will see about it,” said Pacquiao in an interview by The Atlantic. “I know I can rematch him if I want. I’ll just need to tell (Premier Boxing Champions CEO) Al Haymon. That would be no problem. I will think about it because I can’t believe that one of the easiest opponents I ever faced did that.” Ugas’ style isn’t suited for a fighter who’s shorter in height and reach without mobility. If Pacquiao had his legs for their fight, it could’ve been a different outcome.

Ending his career on a losing note wouldn’t diminish Pacquiao’s recognition as a Hall of Fame shoo-in. Filipino Hall of Famer Flash Elorde was 36 when he lost his last fight to Hiroyuki Murakami by a unanimous decision in Tokyo in May 1971. That brought to a close Elorde’s 20-year career during which he reigned as world junior lightweight champion for seven years. Another Filipino Hall of Famer Pancho Villa lost to Jimmy McLarnin on points in his last fight in San Francisco in 1925. He was the reigning world flyweight champion at the time but the crown wasn’t at stake. Villa was only 23 when he died and his boxing career spanned just six years.

Filipino boxing legend Gerry Peñalosa was 38 when he fought his farewell bout against Thailand’s Anan Saeauy in Zamboanga City. Peñalosa stopped Anan in the fourth round. He wanted to end his career in Mindanao as a way to unify Christians and Muslims through sports.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 19-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Filipino child prodigy Asher Judd Sy tops the 3rd King’s College Bangkok Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
    , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.