Manny Pacquiao has never underestimated an opponent over the course of his 26-year pro career.
The legendary former eight-division champion and future Hall of Famer is banking on that extensive experience to get him through an otherwise uncomfortable scenario.
A late change in opponents leaves Philippines’ Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39KOs) in a quest for his old WBA welterweight title versus current claimant Yordenis Ugas (26-4, 12KOs). The two meet this Saturday atop a Fox Sports Pay-Per-View once reserved for Pacquiao’s challenge of WBC/IBF welterweight champ Errol Spence (27-0, 21KOs), a pound-for-pound level southpaw who was forced to withdraw due to a torn retina in his left eye which was discovered during a pre-fight physical.
“The only danger for this fight is the change in stance,” Pacquiao noted of the late notice fight with Ugas—a right handed boxer—during a recent virtual press conference. “Both Spence and Ugas are aggressive fighters, which I like. We can create a lot of great action in the ring that the fans will love.”
The bout became relatively easy to make, if not as a last-ditch alternative to an otherwise undesirable scenario. The fallout of Spence threatened to lay waste to nearly two months’ worth of training for Pacquiao, who returns to the ring for the first time since a July 2019 win over then-unbeaten WBA titlist Keith Thurman.
Ugas happened to find himself without an opponent for his scheduled undercard bout on the PPV show, which will air live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Miami-based Cuban welterweight was due to face Argentina’s Fabian Maidana, who had to withdraw after suffering an untimely cut during a sparring session late in camp.
With the show’s two top remaining welterweights suddenly without opponents, it only made sense to face one another. Both are at the same disadvantage—Pacquiao training to face a fellow southpaw, while Ugas was due to face an orthodox-stance boxer such as himself—though it is expected that each will find their way soon after the opening bell.
“I know that Ugas is also very prepared for his fight because he was going to be on the undercard,” notes Pacquiao, who has won championships or alphabet belts in a record-setting eight weight divisions. “If there was no Ugas on the undercard, it’s possible we would have cancelled the fight.
“It’s a good thing we had another welterweight champion on the card for this scenario that happened.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox