MNL Ph – Filipino Boxing Ĺegend Pride Senator Manny Pacquiao Eight Division and former welterweight champion will return to the ring to fight again after two years with 62-7-2 win-loss-draw card to Yordenis Ugas former Olympic Gold Medalist who holds a 26-4 record to retain the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight crown with the Premier Boxing Champions Card.
Yordenis Ugas, as replacement to Unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. who had an eye injury was supposed to be co feature defending his title against Fabian Maidana, since Spence cannot make it, Ugas stepped up. It is a career defining fight for him, Ugas stated ‘ it’s an honor to fight the great multiple division world champion, Manny Pacquiao as I am more than ready to take on this challenge. I have a tremendous amount of respect. He also added that Pacquiao cannot knock him out.
Though Manny Pacquiao return from a two-year absence still bid to regain his WBA strap. GMA-7 Sports spoke to boxing analysts JM Siasat and Rafe Bartholomew, summary of what to expect in the WBA welterweight world championship. The Filipino legend should have more than enough to get past his Cuban opponent. At 42, Manny Pacquaio or famously called Pacman, still has a hell of a footwork and speed “Yes, mabilis pa rin si Manny Pacquiao and arguably siya pa rin ang pinakamabilis na fighter at the 147-pound division.”
But is he as fast back in 2008,2011? No. He is not as fast,but he is, you know, even na bumaba na ‘yon, na nag-decline na ‘yon, he’s still the fastest among the welterweights out there. That’s how crazy Manny Pacquiao is as an athlete. He is just a freak athlete if you look at it”, Siasat added.
He’s no longer the overwhelming ‘Tazmanian Devil’ in the ring that once was, both Siasat and Bartholomew agree that his age should not be too big of a concern in this fight. Both analysts pointed out that as Pacquiao advances in age, he has become more of a strategic, 12-round fighter who uses his speed and power to completely control fights rather than hunt for knockouts. And that should be enough against a fighter of Ugas’ quality.
“The idea that eventually, the great cliche in all of sports, ‘father time is undefeated, is that finally coming for him now? I think if he is fighting Errol Spence as planned, I’ll be much more worried about that <span;>affecting the fight than I am now. But because it’s Ugas, who is still a very good fighter but not quite as difficult a challenge as Spence, I’m less worried,” Bartholomew said.
“Manny Pacquiao, even though he is past it, he is not just a hall of famer, he is past that, this man is an all-time great. He is an ATG, he is not just a hall of famer,” Siasat added.
“One thing about all-time greats, is that they are always capable of fighting beyond their best, beyond their primes, and they are always beating some class B fighters out there. We’ve seen it over and over again with the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, the likes of Roberto Duran – Roberto Duran fought until he was 50, and still was able to beat class B fighters.”
Filipino fans can watch Pacquiao’s fight against Ugas for the WBA welterweight title on Sunday, August 22 (Manila time) on GMA Network, just like in previous Pacquiao fights, the free TV airing of the bout will be on a slightly delayed basis beginning at 11 a.m.
Super Radyo DZBB will deliver a blow-by-blow account of the Pacquiao-Ugas fight to listeners with a coverage starting at 9 a.m. DZBB is at 594 on the AM.
August 22 via live streaming. As the official SVOD streaming partner of this blockbuster boxing event, WeTV gives streamers a front row seat to experience all the action on Sunday beginning 9 a.m.
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