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Agence France-Presse

Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas sent Manny Pacquiao spinning to a dramatic upset defeat on Saturday, outclassing the Filipino boxing icon with a composed unanimous points victory at the T-Mobile Arena.
In his first fight after a two-year absence from the ring, Pacquiao was made to look every bit of his 42 years as the younger Ugas dominated with a stinging jab and cleaner punching to retain his WBA welterweight belt.
Ugas, 35, had only been drafted in to face Pacquiao earlier this month after the eight-division world champion’s original opponent Errol Spence Jr. suffered an eye injury in training.
But the defending champion seized his opportunity brilliantly to win on all three cards, with one judge scoring it 115-113 and two others 116-112.
Manny Pacquiao cannot knock me out, says Yordenis Ugas – ‘he’s not had a KO in a long time’
“That’s boxing,” a deflated Pacquiao said afterwards.
“I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments. My legs were tight. I’m sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best.”

It was a sweet victory for Ugas, who had been awarded the WBA title after Pacquiao was stripped of the belt by the sanctioning body earlier this year for inactivity.
“I’m very excited but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this opportunity in the ring today,” said Ugas, who improves to 27-4 with 12 knockouts. “We only had two weeks of training but I listened to my corner and it all worked out.
Manny Pacquiao says Yordenis Ugas ‘might be my last fight’ but promoter says he could return to ring this year
“I told you I am the champion of the WBA and I showed it tonight. A lot of respect for (Pacquiao), but I won the fight.”
The defeat is almost certain to renew doubts about Pacquiao’s future in the sport he has graced through 72 fights spanning 26 years since 1995.
However Pacquiao could have few complaints about the eighth defeat of his glittering career.
Although the Filipino was aggressive throughout, advancing with flurries of punches from the opening round, few of his blows did inflicted damage on Ugas, who cleverly used his advantages in reach and height to frustrate Pacquiao.
Ugas meanwhile scored consistently with crisper punches that often rocked Pacquiao back on his heels.

Ugas’s jolting left jab caused problems for Pacquiao throughout, and he repeatedly did damage with a series of powerful rights.
After a cagey opening round, Ugas quickly asserted himself in the middle rounds, startling Pacquiao with a left-right combination in the fifth before ending the sixth with another hard right.
A T-Mobile crowd of 17,438 tried to rally Pacquiao with chants of “Manny, Manny” throughout but the Filipino’s legion of admirers grew steadily more subdued as the rounds wore on.
Pacquiao, with a cluster of red marks on his cheek and forehead a testament to Ugas’s increasing effectiveness, continued to come forward as he sought a big round to change the complexion of the contest.
But Ugas would not be denied, and he had Pacquiao scrambling onto the defensive once again after landing a double left jab and a right hook in quick succession in the 10th, before closing out the final rounds to win.


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Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao upset by Yordenis Ugas in potentially the final fight of his career

Manny Pacquiao (left) lands a right hand on Yordenis Ugas during their WBA World Welterweight Championship fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Photo: EPA

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines waves and bows at the crow after losing against Yordenis Ugas of Cuba following the WBA Welterweight Championship boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 21, 2021. - Cuba's Yordenis Ugas upset Manny Pacquiao to retain his WBA welterweight crown on Saturday, winning by unanimous decision after a bruising 12-round battle at the T-Mobile Arena. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)

Yordenis Ugas, of Cuba, hits Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, in a welterweight championship boxing match Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Manny Pacquiao cannot knock me out, says Yordenis Ugas – ‘he’s not had a KO in a long time’

Manny Pacquiao (left) and Yordenis Ugas pose for photographers during a news conference in Las Vegas. Photo: AP

Manny Pacquiao, right, of the Philippines, looks at his trainer Freddie Roach during a news conference Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Las Vegas. Pacquiao is scheduled to fight Yordenis Ugas, of Cuba, in a welterweight championship bout Saturday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Manny Pacquiao, left, of the Philippines, and Yordenis Ugas, of Cuba, pose for photographers during a news conference Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to fight in a welterweight championship bout Saturday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 18: Ismael Salas, trainer for WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas, speaks during a news conference at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on August 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ugas will defend his title against Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena on August 21 in Las Vegas. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Manny Pacquiao says Yordenis Ugas ‘might be my last fight’ but promoter says he could return to ring this year

Manny Pacquiao enters the ring to face Keith Thurman for the WBA super welterweight title at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Photo: USA Today

(FILES) In this file photo taken on June 22, 2021, Philippine boxing legend and Senator Manny Pacquiao trains at his gym in the city of General Santos in southern island of Mindanao for his upcoming bout against Errol Spence of the US. - Pacquiao said on August 11, 2021, the "only danger" in switching foes for next week's world welterweight boxing title bout will be going from a southpaw foe to a right-handed opponent. The 42-year-old Filipino Senator puts on his gloves August 21 in Las Vegas to face Cuban Yordenis Ugas after American Errol Spence Jr. was forced out of the fight Tuesday due to a left eye injury. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)

Manny Pacquiao relishes Yordenis Ugas fight after Errol Spence injury – ‘this is the one who took my belt’

Manny Pacquiao poses for the media at Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles. Photo: AFP

Errol Spence Jr. after a unanimous decision against Danny Garcia during their WBC & IBF World Welterweight Championship fight at AT&T Stadium on December 5, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/TNS)

Sport

Boxing


Cuba’s Ugas hands the Filipino legend the eighth loss of his career to retain his welterweight championship of the world



Cuba’s Ugas hands the Filipino legend the eighth loss of his career to retain his welterweight championship of the world.


Manny Pacquiao upset by Yordenis Ugas in potentially the final fight of his career

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Cuba’s Ugas hands the Filipino legend the eighth loss of his career to retain his welterweight championship of the world

Cuba’s Ugas hands the Filipino legend the eighth loss of his career to retain his welterweight championship of the world