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Philippines, 30 Jun 2024 |
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MASAM SPORTS 41: YORDENIS UGAS WANTS UNDISPUTED TITLE FIGHT WITH TERENCE CRAWFORD IF HE BEATS ERROL SPENCE PhilBoxing.com Wed, 23 Feb 2022  WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas shocked the world when he scored one of boxing's biggest upsets over eight-division champion and future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao on August 21, 2021. Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) will shoot for more title belts and greater boxing heights on April 16, when he clashes with IBF and WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence in a much-awaited unification match. Ugas says he is not intimidated in fighting at the homecourt of his opponent less than two months before the high-profile unification fight against Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. If Ugas defeats Spence, he wants to become the undisputed welterweight champion by targeting the WBO champion Terence Crawford. “[If I beat Spence], I would like Crawford. I think that, in this fight, I don't have to speak badly or be boastful. The only thing I will say about this fight is that the winner agrees to fight Crawford, that the winner continues to go for the undisputed crown. On my part, that is what I want to do. I also have the option of [Keith] Thurman, a great fight that is there at the top," Ugas told ESPN Deportes. Lots of talks were done about the planned fight between Spence and Crawford to determine who is the best welterweight champion of the world, but the bout never materialized. And Ugas is not afraid to face both dreaded champions in succession if successful. "As I said with Pacquiao, that I was ready for a night like this, now I am ready to fight at the highest level in the sport and give my best to the fans who watch the fights, who follow me and support me. When I fought Pacquiao, the majority was siding with Pacquiao [to win]. Now it's going to be the same, but I'm going to show what I'm made of and unleash the best that I have," Ugas said. Ugas is anticipating a good showing from Spence who he thinks has recovered totally from his car accident. “I anticipate the best [from Spence]. He showed it already when he came back from the accident. He beat Danny [Garcia] in good fashion and I'm expecting an even better Errol Spence. I don't think anything is going to affect him." Ugas also aims at Keith Thurman as an alternative. "I also have the option of Thurman, a great fight that is there at the top. I am ready to fight at the highest level in the sport and give my best to the fans who watch the fights,” Yordenis continued. Ugas sent boxing legend Manny Pacquiao into retirement by coming in as a replacement to Spence on eleven days’ notice to defeat the Filipino icon by a 12 round unanimous decision. Patricia Morse Jarman of Las Vegas saw it 115-113, Dave Moretti of Las Vegas had it 116-112 and Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey scored it 116-112 all in favor of Ugas, who was a 4-1 underdog. Spence won the IBF crown by knocking out Kell Brook in the 11th round on May 27, 2017 at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England. He added the WBC belt by a split decision win over Shawn Porter on September 28, 2019 at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA. While Spence is still undefeated, Ugas has four professional losses all to American opponents. He was defeated by Johnny Garcia by SD8, Emmanuel Robles by SD10, Amir Imam by UD8, and Shawn Porter by SD12 for the WBC welterweight title. According to Yahoo News, Ugas escaped the tyranny in his native Cuba, which is under Communist rule. He attempted to defect six times and was caught every time and was sent to prison. He finally defected successfully in 2010 after winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. We expect lots of excitement in the most popular weight class, the welterweight division, in the following months.  |
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