Thumbs down on Ugas rematch
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Aug 2021
Manny Pacquiao (R) with Sean Gibbons (L).
MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said yesterday he’ll advise Manny Pacquiao against doing a rematch with WBA welterweight super champion Yordenis Ugas despite the Senator recently considering a second encounter in January next year.
If Pacquiao will fight one last time, Gibbons said he’d prefer a gala type of celebration without going through the rigors of a grueling camp and a bruising battle in the ring. “The Senator needs a proper send-off, a tribute to a long, beautiful and illustrious Hall of Fame career against a solid opponent whom he should pound to the ground,” said Gibbons. “It should be like a big gala type, a celebration of the Senator’s career.”
As for Ugas, Gibbons said he wouldn’t be the kind of opponent for a gala. “We never ever need to see Ugas again,” he said. “In his prime, the Senator would’ve spanked Ugas and it would’ve been like Ugas fighting three Manny Pacquiaos at the same time because no way he could’ve kept up with his speed and movement.”
But Pacquiao may think differently. He said cramps limited his mobility and what was an even fight up to the sixth round turned out to be an upset win by the Cuban. Buboy Fernandez said it wouldn’t be right to close Pacquiao’s career with a loss to Ugas so he’d like a rematch to settle things but next time, there should be no more cramping. “I can come back in January, I will see about it,” said Pacquiao in an interview by The Atlantic. “I know I can rematch him if I want. I’ll just need to tell (Premier Boxing Champions CEO) Al Haymon. That would be no problem. I will think about it because I can’t believe that one of the easiest opponents I ever faced did that.” Ugas’ style isn’t suited for a fighter who’s shorter in height and reach without mobility. If Pacquiao had his legs for their fight, it could’ve been a different outcome.
Ending his career on a losing note wouldn’t diminish Pacquiao’s recognition as a Hall of Fame shoo-in. Filipino Hall of Famer Flash Elorde was 36 when he lost his last fight to Hiroyuki Murakami by a unanimous decision in Tokyo in May 1971. That brought to a close Elorde’s 20-year career during which he reigned as world junior lightweight champion for seven years. Another Filipino Hall of Famer Pancho Villa lost to Jimmy McLarnin on points in his last fight in San Francisco in 1925. He was the reigning world flyweight champion at the time but the crown wasn’t at stake. Villa was only 23 when he died and his boxing career spanned just six years.
Filipino boxing legend Gerry Peñalosa was 38 when he fought his farewell bout against Thailand’s Anan Saeauy in Zamboanga City. Peñalosa stopped Anan in the fourth round. He wanted to end his career in Mindanao as a way to unify Christians and Muslims through sports.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 2026Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Mar 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Mar 2026Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
Wed, 04 Mar 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
Wed, 04 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
Tue, 03 Mar 2026STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS
Tue, 03 Mar 2026The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
Tue, 03 Mar 2026Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
Tue, 03 Mar 2026“Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 02 Mar 2026Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
Mon, 02 Mar 2026