SPORTS SHORTS 201: YORDENIS UGAS DEFEATS MANNY PACQUIAO SIMILAR TO LEDWABA-PACQUIAO IN 2001 AND OTHER SIDELIGHTS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Aug 2021
Yordenis Ugas, the 35-year-old Cuban, who accepted the fight on 11 days' notice, scored a unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena to retain his WBA welterweight title, in an upset victory which could retire the eight-division world champion for good.
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All three judges unanimously scored it for Ugas. Patricia Morse Jarman of Las Vegas saw it 115-113, Dave Moretti of Las Vegas had it 116-112 and Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey scored it 116-112 all in favor of Ugas, who was a 4-1 underdog.
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Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) pulled off a big upset win similar to Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) himself twenty years ago who shocked Lehlo Ledwaba and dethroned the South African champion of his IBF superbantamweight title on short notice as a substitute challenger.
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Though the difference is that Ugas is the champion while in 2001 Pacquiao was the challenger. Ugas won by unanimous decision while Pacquiao stopped Lebwaba by 6th round TKO.
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"I'm very excited but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this moment in this ring today," said Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs). " ... We only had two weeks of training but I listened to my corner and it all worked out."
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"I told you I am the champion of the WBA and I showed it tonight. [Pacquiao] is a great competitor to show that I am the champion of the WBA. A lot of respect for him, but I won the fight."
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Compubox Punchstats
Total Punches Thrown
Ugas 404
Pacquiao 815
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Total Punches Landed
Ugas 151 (37.3%)
Pacquiao 130 (16%)
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Total Body Punches Landed
Ugas 34
Pacquiao 6
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Total Jabs Thrown
Ugas 234
Pacquiao 475
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Total Jabs Landed
Ugas 50 (21.4%)
Pacquiao 42 (8.8%)
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Total Body Jabs Landed
Ugas 4
Pacquiao 0
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Total Power Punches Thrown
Ugas 171
Pacquiao 340
* * *
Total Power Punches Landed
Ugas 181 (59.1%)
Pacquiao 88 (25.9%)
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Total Body Power Punches Landed
Ugas 30
Pacquiao 6
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In the opening round, Pacquiao unleashed a quick flurry of punches on Ugas. Pacquiao then pinned Ugas on the ropes with a barrage of blows. Pacquiao again hit a shot that shook Ugas. Jabs were connected by Ugas.
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Pacquiao connected straight left hands, then a counterpunch in the second round. Ugas retaliated with powerful right hands to the body of Pacquiao.
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Pacquiao landed counterpunches which Ugas answered with a right hand. Pacquiao hit Ugas with a left hand that put him to the ropes as they exchanged blows in the third stanza.
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In the fourth canto, a strong right hand landed to the body of Pacquiao from Ugas. Pacquiao answered by connecting a hard left to the body of Ugas. Ugas was warned for a low blow by the referee and Pacquiao was given time to recover.
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In the fifth, Ugas took advantage of his longer reach using his jabs followed by a right hand. Pacquiao also hit some shots and Ugas retaliated.
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Pacquiao missed some combinations in the sixth. Ugas' right hand found its way and connected some stiff jabs.
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In the seventh, the second half of the fight, Pacquiao connected his punches and Ugas countered. The Cuban used his right hand to hit Pacquiao who landed good jabs. Exchange of punches were made as the bell sounded.
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Ugas led in the points scored as the fight went on to the eighth round. A right hook for Ugas and a left hand for Pacquiao hit their marks.
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Ugas connected more power punches and dominated the ninth. Ugas pushed Pacquiao down and the referee warned the Olympian.
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Pacquiao blocked Ugas' right hand and delivered his own blasts. They trade blows with Ugas getting the upper hand in the tenth.
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The penultimate round saw Pacquiao connecting a left straight and Ugas hit with his right punch. Still Ugas led in the power punches landed.
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The twelfth round had Ugas sealing his imminent triumph. He connected a right hand followed by a left uppercut. Pacquiao was cut on the left of his face. Ugas completely dominated Pacquiao in this final round en route to a unanimous decision.
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Judge Moretti had Ugas winning the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th rounds with Pacquiao getting the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 9th rounds.
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Judge Jarman favored Ugas in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, and 12th rounds and Pacquiao in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 9th, and 10th rounds.
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Judge Weisfeld scored for Ugas in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th rounds while Pacquiao had the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 11th rounds.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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