After a two-year hiatus, Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas.
The two boxing champion faced off at the T-Mobile Arena and the Cuban boxer thrilled with his witty punches.
Ugas was fast, calculating, and cleaner, tactics which he employed to defend his WBA welterweight belt.
The Cuban boxer, 35, left the 42-year-old Pacquiao dealing with a false start as he makes a comeback to boxing.
Manny Pacquiao. [CBS]
He dominated the game with his pro-go jabs against the Filipino who couldn’t help but take most of them from the younger blood.
Pacquiao was not initially to square it out with Errol Spence Jr, the eight-division world champion’s but he dropped out due to an injury.
Errol sustained an eye injury during training which is how Ugas got a slot to face the Filipino.
Ugas won all three rounds and impressing the judge by posting 115-113 and two others 116-112 scores.
A disappointed Pacquiao described this turn of events as normal in boxing.
He added that he had a difficult time trying to make adjustments despite giving his best.
“I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments. My legs were tight. I’m sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best,” Capital Sports quotes him.
Pacquiao’s WBA welterweight belt was taken back this year due to his long period of inactivity in the ring.
Manny Pacquiao. [Sportszion]
This gave Ugas the zeal to stage a classic fight to retain the title. He, however, thanked Pacquiao for the chance to share the ring with him.
“I’m very excited but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this opportunity in the ring today,” Ugas said.
In this game, his knockouts improved by 12 – 27-4 – which he worked on for two weeks that he trained for the fight.
“We only had two weeks of training but I listened to my corner and it all worked out. I told you I am the champion of the WBA and I showed it tonight. A lot of respect for (Pacquiao), but I won the fight.”
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