SPORTS SHORTS 204: YORDENIS UGAS REMAINS RESPECTFUL TO MANNY PACQUIAO AND WANTS TO GIVE HIM A SECOND FIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 28 Aug 2021
Yordenis Ugas remained respectful and with high esteem for eight division champion Manny Pacquiao even with his pronouncement that the Cuban was one of the simplest foes he ever faced.
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“In my entire career, Ugas was one of the easiest opponents,” said Pacquiao as quoted by The Athletic. “He only had one style and I should’ve been able to easily move away.”
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The WBA super world welterweight champion wished Pacquiao safety even if the fighting senator was not totally satisfied of Ugas’ unanimous victory over him last weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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"Many people write to me, they ask me about Pacquiao's statements that I have been one of his easiest rivals in his career," posted Ugas on his Twitter account.
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“The only thing I can say is that he goes to his house in peace, he recovers, and that I respect him for being one of the best boxers in history,” the champ added.
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Ugas offered the twelve time world champion a rematch. If it pushes through then both fighters will have adequate preparations by then in contrast to the eleven days change in training for the August 21 fight.
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“I will be honored to face him again,” said Ugas in a virtual interview with BoxingNews. “The main difference is if there’s a rematch, he would have a better preparation for the fight. That would be a very important aspect of the fight.”
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The 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medalist also reacted to some fans who asserted that Pacquiao won the very close fight, Ugas knew, as most analysts did, that he was the better fighter that night.
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“The fans can think what they want, but I’m convince I was the best in the ring, and I’m happy about that,” reacted Ugas.
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Pacquiao is unfazed by his latest loss as he posted on social media, “I have come to this point in my career by the grace of God. It is He who gave me the strength to fight."
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“I can look back and honestly say that I gave my best. My family and you, the fans, have been with me all the way," the Filipino boxing icon continued. “I will not focus on defeat, but instead count my blessings. God bless everyone!”
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Mike Coppinger of ESPN commented that had Pacquiao fought Errol Spence as originally scheduled and come out winner, he probably have vaulted him ahead of Floyd Mayweather in the all time greatest fighters list.
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"That victory would've been an incredible achievement at 42, and in this sport, longevity matters. Their career accomplishments are tough to separate -- both had long runs at the top of the pound-for-pound list, often switching places after their fights," said Coppinger.
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"These are not just the two greatest fighters of their generation, but two of the top 10 or 15 boxers to ever lace up the gloves. There's no shame in being second to Mayweather, even if there are many who believe Pacquiao would have come out on top if they had fought five years earlier. We'll never know," added Coppinger.
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He also has his opinion on the WBA super champion which has a legitimate chance to establish himself as the best welterweight in boxing. The Cuban fighter is big for 147 pounds, long and rangy, and also is strong on the inside.
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"Ugas should be recognized as the third-best 147-pounder in all of boxing behind Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford. The Cuban would be installed as an underdog against either man, but not likely a big one after Saturday night. Now Ugas just needs the fights to prove he's the best," commented Coppinger.
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Top 10 Active NBA Players With The Highest Winning Percentage:
1. Kawhi Leonard - 74.5% (429-147)
2. Danny Green - 71.9% (544-213)
3. Klay Thompson - 70.2% (432-183)
4. Draymond Green - 68.2% (436-203)
5. LeBron James - 66.3% (869-441)
6. Serge Ibaka - 66.0% (560-289)
7. Stephen Curry - 65.6% (500-262)
8. James Harden - 65.2% (572-305)
9. Patty Mills - 64.5% (477-262)
10. Chris Paul - 64.0% (698-392)
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Kawhi Leonard has always been a member of successful and championship teams, beginning as a rookie in the Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich-led San Antonio Spurs. When Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors, still the team rallied with him as their franchise player to get their 2019 NBA title.
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Danny Green has 3 NBA championships with the Spurs (2014), Raptors (2019), and Lakers (2020) and is playing on another title contender in the Philadelphia 76ers. In the 2009 NBA draft he was picked only in the second round at 46th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Included in the top ten active players with highest winning percentage are the Golden State Warriors Big Three players Curry, Thompson and Green in the 2014–2019 dynasty. They had five trips to the NBA Finals, becoming three time champions.
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Serge Ibaka played only 41 games with the Clippers last season. He was the best shot-blocker in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder, which entered the NBA Finals in 2012. Ibaka won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
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LeBron James is the only player to have won NBA championships with three franchises, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
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As NBA Finals MVP, James has competed in ten NBA Finals, eight of them consecutively with the Heat and the Cavaliers from 2011 to 2018. His accomplishments include four NBA titles, four NBA MVP awards, and four NBA Finals MVP awards.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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