Errol Spence is already the WBA and IBF welterweight champion. The De Soto, Texas native was less than two weeks away from a career-defining fight with eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao when he received terrible news.
Spence announced to the boxing world on Tuesday, August 10, that he was withdrawing from his boxing match with Pacquiao scheduled for August 21. The announcement came a day after a doctor performing a prefight examination diagnosed Spence with a torn retina.
WBA champion Yordenis Ugas planned to fight Fabian Maidana in his first title defense on the Pacquiao-Spence undercard. Ugas will now replace Errol Spence in the main event against Pacquiao.
“I`m very disappointed,” Spence used a press release to share his feelings with boxing fans. “Doctors found a tear in my left eye. ” The injury requires immediate surgery and Spence says, “there is no way I could fight with my eye in that condition.”
Spence returned to Dallas after learning of the eye injury. He will have the surgery he needs to repair the tear on Wednesday.
Manny Pacquaio wished Errol Spence well. He says he is praying for a full recovery. Pacquiao believes it is a blessing that the physical examination uncovered the eye injury and Spence did not risk further injury by fighting on the 21st.
Pacquiao last fought in 2019 when he took the WBA championship with a split decision victory against Keith Thurman. The WBA elevated Ugas to primary champion when Pacquiao did not defend the title in a timely fashion.
Yordenis Ugas is an Olympic bronze medalist. The 35-year-old Cuban has been campaigning for a fight against top competition and will now get his wish. He says it is an honor to fight against a boxing icon like Manny Pacquiao.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Pacquiao,” Ugas explains. “But I am coming to win this fight.”