Photo Credit: AFP
Boxing

Yordenis Ugas Upsets Manny Pacquiao Via Unanimous Decision, Retains Welterweight Title

By FIGHTSPORTS

Manny Pacquiao has proven over and over that he can beat Father Time. This time, however, his future is not fully known following a defeat in which looked like a much different version of himself at various points. 

Inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Pacquiao lost to Yordenis Ugas via unanimous decision. The latter, an eleven-day replacement opponent who took the spot of Errol Spence Jr., used his quick jabs and controlled the pace to retain the WBA Welterweight Title.

Via the broadcast, Ugas landed 151 shots compared to Pacquiao’s 130. When asked what was in his future, the Senator of the Philippines wasn’t too sure. 

“I don’t know. I don’t know. Let me relax and then make a decision,” Pacquiao stated after the fight. 

Ugas is now looking to collect and fight to unify the division. He wants to face fighters like Spence and Terence Crawford. 

“He’s (Pacquiao) a great competitor, but I came in here to show I am the champion of the WBA,” Ugas stated after the bout. “A lot of respect for him, but I won this fight.”

The fight started with Pacquiao setting the pace early with his quick offense. Ugas, however, would slow the fight down with jabs, a key asset that would be used the entire fight. There were body shots landed by Ugas, but Pacquiao would counter with jabs of his own. Round two saw Ugas land those same jabs with full force. His defense was also key as he had Pacquiao guessing and frustrated through the night.  

Pacquiao had a cut about his right eye to start round three, but that would not stop him from landing classic flurries. No matter how many shots he landed, however, Ugas would laugh it off. Ugas would enter the later rounds still being the patient aggressor, landing body shots and rights. He would land rights to the body and face of Pacquiao multiple times, with Pacquiao agreeing during the post-fight interview that he did not have the best leg work. 

They were trading shots in the fifth, with Ugas landing at a much better pace. He would continue to land with rights and would advance with combination shots. Body shots seemed to be affecting Pacquiao, but that would not stop the multi-time champion from continuing. Pacquiao would land hooks, but Ugas would land combination hooks and body shots. 

The 42-year-old Pacquiao would try and land close distant shots and combos, trying anything to stay in the fight. Ugas, however, would continue his dominant pace, landing rights, a body shot, and another right. He would land an overhand right and a shot to the ear in the championship rounds, which forced Pacquiao to back up again.

In the final round, Ugas landed overhand shots that threw Pacquiao off balance and would not stop. Pacquiao would land a counter left, but Ugas got the last laugh in the end, literally and figuratively. 

According to CompuBox, Ugas’ accuracy rate of power punches (59% landed) was greater (16%) than Pacquiao’s.

Ugas is now on a four-fight win streak since losing to then-WBC Welterweight Champion Shawn Porter in 2019. The loss ends Pacquiao’s three-fight win streak. He is now 5-2 in his last seven fights. 

Yordenis Ugas def. Manny Pacquiao via unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 116-112)

Robert Guerrero def. Victor Ortiz via unanimous decision (96-94, 96-94, 96-94)

Mark Magsayo def. Julio Ceja via KO (0:50 into round 10)

Carlos Castro def. Oscar Escandon via KO (round ten)

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