![]() The 33-year-old Ugas is now 10-1 with five knockouts in his past 11 fights while competing from 146 ½ -to-158 ½ pounds. Ugas: Aug(PBC on ESPN) REBOUNDING WITH A VENGEANCE I changed trainers and made changes in my life is what made a difference.” ![]() “He gradually restored my willpower to regain my gym regimen and rhythm, suggesting the move to 147 was perfect, re-energizing me after having trouble making 140. Salas has a unique history of mentally and physically preparing Cuban boxers,” said Ugas, who moved to Las Vegas and returned as a welterweight under Salas. The idea was always to return to the sport and to compete. “At that time, I was reflecting and organizing my life. Ugas was 11-0 with five knockouts and weighed 142 pounds entering his first loss by eight-round split-decision to then-unbeaten Johnny Garcia in March 2012.Ī 140-pound Ugas was 15-1 with seven stoppage victories in 2014 before losing consecutive split- and unanimous decisions to then-unbeaten fighters Emanuel Robles (February) and Amir Imam (May).Ī disillusioned Ugas nearly hung up the gloves before returning 27 months later under legendary Cuban trainer Ismael Salas, who had worked with former lightweight champion Jorge Linares and former 130- and 135-pound title holder Rances Barthelemy. Ugas’ initial victories were comprised of a unanimous decision over Dino Dumonjic and a first-round of DeJuan Jackson (both in July), a second-round TKO Marqus Jackson (August), a 97-second TKO of Anthony Adams (September) and a unanimous decision over Anthony Woods (October). Nicknamed “54 Milagros" (Miracles), Ugas defected from Cuba in 2010, taking a circuitous route from Mexico to Miami, leaving behind his parents and several cousins, and turning pro as a Miami-based welterweight in 2010, going 5-0 with three knockouts over five months. I know I won against Julius Indongo, also, but I don’t remember the score.”Ī post shared by Yordenis Ugas on at 7:49pm PDT ENDURING IN AMERICA I beat Khabib in the semifinals of the World Amateur Championships, 45-21, in 2005, and both Jose Pedraza and Sadam Ali in 2008. “I’ve beaten Francisco Vargas twice, in 2005 and in 2006. I fought and beat Darlys Perez four times, including in the Pan American Games,” said Ugas. It was an awesome fight, but I always knew Crawford had greatness in him and a bright future in the sport. With ‘Bud’ Crawford, I beat him 27-10 in the 2007 Pan American Games. Ugas blossomed as an amateur, claiming victories over current and past professional champions Terence Crawford, Darlys Perez, Francisco Vargas, Khabib Allakverdiev, Jose Pedraza, Julius Indongo and Sadam Ali. These are the things that make you who you are in life.” “These are the things that toughen you up when you’re young and prepare you to become a boxer. ![]() “I come from a humble family that had no roof over their head or anything,” said Ugas. ![]() Time will tell if Pacquiao does retire from the sport, but I am sure he and the rest of the boxingworld would want to see another victory before he leaves the ring for good.A post shared by Yordenis Ugas on at 8:41pm PST AN ACCOMPLISHED CUBAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONĪ Cuban bronze medal winner in the 2008 Olympic Games, Yordenis Ugas began boxing at age six 6 as a way of coping with the poverty he endured as a youth. Last night’s fight (held in Las Vegas) could be a symbolic hand over of the baton as Pacquiao’s record of 62 wins, eight losses and two draws is fairly even, in regards to winning percentage, with Ugas’ 27 wins and four defeats. I’m sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best.” On the fight, Pacquiao seemed extremely disappointed with his own performance as he respectfully exasperated: “I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments. “I don’t know,” he responded when asked if he’ll ever fight again. There were also questions for Pacquiao surrounding his retirement, which now seems to be imminent, considering that the eight-time division world champion is a politician in his native Philippines. A lot of respect for, but I won the fight.” “I told you I am the champion of the WBA and I showed it tonight. “We only had two weeks of training but I listened to my corner and it all worked out. The scorecards came in as 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112 in Ugas’ favour.Īnswering questions on the fight, the champion was humble in his responses, saying: “I’m very excited but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this opportunity in the ring today. On top of this, Ugas was a very late addition due to the Philippine’s original opponent ( Errol Spence Jr.) picking up an injury, and the Cuban was only announced as the replacement on August 10.
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