Errol Spence Jr. just couldn’t bring himself to do it.
The unbeaten IBF/WBC welterweight champion would’ve been well within reason to face a less imposing opponent than Yordenis Ugas in his first fight following surgery to repair a torn left retina. Spence knew, however, that he wouldn’t have been motivated to make a mandated defense of one of his 147-pound championships or to face an optional opponent.
That’s why an ambitious Spence informed Premier Boxing Champions’ founder Al Haymon that he wanted Ugas next once the DeSoto, Texas, native was cleared medically to return to the gym. Although Spence has boxed only once since his 12-round, split-decision defeat of Shawn Porter in September 2019 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, handicappers have made him almost a 4-1 favorite versus Ugas in their title unification fight April 16 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Now that he is 32, has overcome facial lacerations and dental damage suffered during his well-documented car accident in October 2019 and appears to have recovered well from serious eye surgery in mid-August, Spence wants to maximize however many opportunities he has left in his boxing career. He explained to PBC’s Ray Flores during a recent open workout in Dallas why he went straight to Ugas.
“I did have, you know, almost two career-ending injuries,” Spence said. “So, you know, I feel like I’m on borrowed time right now. So, you know, I can’t just sit around and fight a tune-up fight, and then, you know, God forbid something may happen or anything like that. So, you know, send me straight in with the other sharks, you know? And I feel like Ugas, he’s a tough fighter and he’s gonna come to fight. He’s gonna push me to that level.
“And that’s what I want in training camp and everything. I want an opponent that’s gonna push me because I knew if I fight in a tune-up or anything like that, like I could, you know, sneak snacks in at night and, you know, do other stuff cuz, you know, I’m not fighting somebody that I feel like that’s on my level. But I’m fighting somebody who’s on my level, so I’m a hundred percent prepared.”
Spence will fight for the first time in 16 months when he squares off against Ugas. The strong southpaw out-pointed Danny Garcia (36-3, 21 KOs) in his last appearance, a 12-round fight that headlined a FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event in December 2020 at AT&T Stadium.
Ugas upset Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) by unanimous decision in his most recent fight, a 12-rounder August 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Cuban-born boxer replaced Spence as Pacquiao’s opponent on only 11 days’ notice, once the tear to Spence’s left retina was detected during an eye exam in Nevada.
Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) and Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs), the WBA “super” welterweight champ, will meet in the main event of a four-fight Showtime Pay-Per-View telecast ($74.95).
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.