Yordenis Ugas possesses more than a healthy amount of respect for eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. But that does not mean he is not totally confident in the days leading up to his fight with the Filipino boxing legend.
Ugas is a Cuban native who enjoyed a stellar amateur career. His amateur accomplishments include a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships and an Olympic bronze medal.
Yordenis Ugas turned pro in 2010 and has amassed a 26-4 record. The Cuban came up a bit short in his first attempt at a world championship when he lost a split decision to Shawn Porter in 2019. Ugas did well enough in the fight that many fans watching the contest thought he was the winner when the final bell sounded.
Ugas got his second chance at a world title a year in a half later. This time, he defeated Abel Ramos to claim the WBA welterweight title. He now welcomes the chance to elevate his profile in the sport with a victory against Manny Pacquiao.
Manny Pacquiao was planning to fight the two-belt champion, Errol Spence, this Saturday night. But an unexpected turn of events caused Spence to withdraw from the competition. Yordenis Ugas did not hesitate to take the fight against a legend on short notice.
“I`ve taken fights before on short notice,” Ugas explains while declaring his readiness to face Pacquiao. “The only difference here is that I am taking on someone of the caliber of Manny Pacquiao.”
Yordenis Ugas is a humble man who has endured many hardships in his 35 years on earth. He credits his life experiences with preparing him for the biggest boxing match of his career.
“I come from a communist country where I couldn´t even become a professional,” Ugas reflects upon the unlikely journey leading to his fight with Manny Pacquiao at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “I became a free man and a champion.”