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Boxing: Yordenis Ugas honored, ready to fight Pacquiao

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Yordenis Ugas (C) poses with referee Russell Mora and members of his team after defeating Omar Figueroa Jr. during a welterweight bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ugas won the fight by unanimous decision. File photo. Steve Marcus, Getty Images/AFP" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/sports/08/11/boxing.jpg"/><figcaption>Yordenis Ugas (C) poses with referee Russell Mora and members of his team after defeating Omar Figueroa Jr. during a welterweight bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ugas won the fight by unanimous decision. File photo. Steve Marcus, Getty Images/AFP</figcaption></figure></div>Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas received the opportunity of a lifetime when Errol Spence Jr. was forced to withdraw from his August 21 bout against Manny Pacquiao due to an eye injury.Originally set to defend his WBA &quot;super&quot; welterweight belt against Fabian Maidana in the undercard, Ugas now finds himself in the main event where he will face off against the &quot;Pacman.&quot;It will undoubtedly be the biggest fight in the career of the 35-year-old Ugas, who will bring a record of 26 wins and four losses into his welterweight showdown against the Filipino legend.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/11/21/errol-spence-out-for-pacquiao-bout-cites-eye-injury">FULL STORY: Pacquiao will have new opponent, as eye injury forces Spence to back out</a></li></ul>&quot;It&#x27;s an honor to fight the great multiple division world champion, Manny Pacquiao, as I am more than ready to take on this challenge,&quot; Ugas said in a statement. &quot;I have a tremendous amount of respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight,&quot; he declared.Ugas has won three straight matches heading into the fight, the most recent of which was a split decision triumph over Abel Ramos in September 2020 where he earned the &quot;regular&quot; version of the WBA welterweight title.In January 2021, he was promoted to &quot;super&quot; champion while Pacquiao was declared &quot;champion in recess&quot; due to his inactivity.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/30/21/wba-declares-pacquiao-champion-in-recess-due-to-inactivity">READ: WBA declares Pacquiao &#x27;champion in recess&#x27; due to inactivity</a></li></ul>Ugas said he is well-prepared for Pacquiao, having been training with his coach, Ismael Salas, for the past few months.&quot;I know together we will come up with a masterful game plan to combat anything Manny will bring to the ring,&quot; he said.&quot;I wish Errol Spence Jr. a speedy recovery and I want to ensure the fans that I will be at my best for this fight,&quot; he added.A bronze medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Ugas is well aware of how important his upcoming bout will be.&quot;Everyone knows my story about how I came to America to follow my dreams of becoming a world champion, and now it&#x27;s time to stamp my legacy with a victory, as one of the best Cuban fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves,&quot; he said.&quot;I love my country and I want to dedicate this fight to all the men and women who are fighting for freedom.&quot;

Yordenis Ugas received the opportunity of a lifetime when Errol Spence Jr. was forced to withdraw from his August 21 bout against Manny Pacquiao.