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Ugas promises to give Pacquiao a tight fight

Roy Luarca

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Ugas promises to give Pacquiao a tight fight

NO PAPER CHAMP. Yordenis Ugas says he’s out to prove he deserves the WBA super welterweight crown.

Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions

‘I've hit my stride and I just don't believe I can be stopped by Manny. I have prepared for 12 hard rounds,’ says Cuban Yordenis Ugas

Yordenis Ugas was at the right place, at the right situation, at the right moment to merit the title clash with Manny Pacquiao.

Will his luck hold on Saturday, August 21 (Sunday, August 22, Philippine time)? Or, will Ugas find out he’s a mere mortal pitted against an immortal? An ordinary champion against a living legend.

Either way, Ugas is already counting on fighting Pacquiao a blessing.

He’ll be part of boxing lore, and with the chance to become Cuba’s best.

Ugas dangles his World Boxing Association super welterweight belt against its former owner at T-Mobile Arena here.

“This has long been a long road for me. Obviously, it is short notice that I learned I was fighting Pacquiao, but I’m thankful for the opportunity and I’m ready to take advantage of it,” said Ugas, a late substitute for Errol Spence Jr. who pulled out after sustaining a retinal tear on the left eye.

“We (he and trainer Ismael Salas) made the adjustments we had to in the last two weeks so that I am ready for Pacquiao. There are no excuses heading into this fight. I’ve been in this position (taking a short-notice fight before), although obviously never against a fighter the caliber of Pacquiao.”

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Although he admits Pacquiao would be hard to beat, Ugas doesn’t want to be tagged a paper champ either.

“I’m certain that he cannot knock met out. I’ve done all my preparation over these six years to get in this position,” said Ugas.

“I’ve hit my stride and I just don’t believe I can be stopped by Manny. I have prepared for 12 hard rounds. If this is Pacquiao’s final fight, then he’s going up against a guy who brought his best and is a world-class fighter.”

Ugas was a decorated amateur, a 2005 world lightweight champion, and a 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medalist who defected to the United States in 2010.

A late starter, the 36-year-old Ugas holds a 26-4 record with 12 knockouts.

For Ugas, however, nothing compares to getting the chance to clash with Pacquiao. – Rappler.com

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