Ugas’ artillery not a problem
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 20 Aug 2021
LAS VEGAS. From scouting reports, it appears that WBA welterweight super champion Yordenis Ugas’ main weapons are a stiff left jab and an overhand right. But neither Freddie Roach nor Buboy Fernandez is worried. Whatever Ugas brings to the table, Manny Pacquiao will be ready to take him down when they battle at the T-Mobile Arena here Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time).
Pacquiao, 42, will be in an unusual role as challenger. Ugas, 35, is the defending champion and the irony is he was elevated to “super” status by the WBA after Pacquiao was unjustly stripped of the recognition for inactivity despite the pandemic. Pacquiao became the “super” king after beating Keith Thurman in 2019. Last January, the WBA dumped Pacquiao and installed Ugas the new “super” champion in a board room decision, meaning the belt wasn’t earned in the ring. Ugas claimed the vacant “regular” title via a split decision over Abel Ramos in September last year then got the kick upstairs at Pacquiao’s expense.
Now Pacquiao has the chance to regain the strap that was once his. Pacquiao was originally set to face WBC/IBF king Errol Spence but the fight was cancelled. Spence was diagnosed with a torn retina in the left eye and forced to withdraw over a week ago. Ugas was set to stake his crown against Argentina’s Fabian Maidana in the undercard and moved up to confront Pacquiao. Maidana was injured in training and like Spence, backed out of his appointment.
Pacquiao said he’s not taking Ugas lightly, knowing he was a former Olympic bronze medalist and a champion in his own right. He had to adjust his sparring routine to bring in right-handers in his last few sessions. Before Spence’s withdrawal, Pacquiao sparred southpaws but it’s easier to adjust to fighting right-handers than the other way around. Ugas brought in left-handers to simulate Pacquiao’s style at the last minute so the adjustment was more a challenge for the Cuban.
Pacquiao worked on the left uppercut as his main leveler for Spence but now that Ugas is his opponent, he’ll use the right straight as his killer punch. Roach said for Pacquiao, it doesn’t really matter which hand to employ because Ugas is an easy, slow-moving target. Fernandez said Pacquiao will know how to dodge Ugas’ left jab and overhand right. It’ll be constant motion, darting in and out, creating angles to turn Ugas around. Fernandez said he’ll remind Pacquiao not to leave his fate to the judges. “Huwag mag-tiwala sa ball pen,” he said. Pacquiao has been a victim of bum decisions in the past, losing disputed verdicts to Tim Bradley and Jeff Horn. He thrashed Thurman but the decision was split, not unanimous. Fernandez said if there's an opportunity to knock out Ugas, Pacquiao won't hesitate to pull the trigger.
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