Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas fight for Ugas’ WBA “super” welterweight title in the main event of Saturday’s pay-per-view card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), 42, a senator in his home country of the Philippines, hasn’t fought since defeating Keith Thurman by split decision in July 2019. Saturday night’s bout may be the last fight of his Hall of Fame career — if he follows through with his intention to run for president.
Pacquiao won this WBA belt with his victory over Thurman, but he was stripped in January due to inactivity. Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs), 35, of Cuba, then the WBA secondary titleholder, was elevated to full titlist. Now Pacquiao wants his title back, and if he’s successful, he will become the only fighter to win a welterweight title five times.
Ugas, who was scheduled to fight on the undercard, stepped in for the injured Errol Spence Jr. to face Pacquiao on only 11 days’ notice. He lost a close decision to Shawn Porter in 2019, but has since won three consecutive fights.
In the co-main event, former champions Robert Guerrero and Victor “Vicious” Ortiz will meet in a 10-round welterweight battle.
Follow live as Mike Coppinger recaps all the action from Las Vegas throughout the night.
Fight in progress: Yordenis Ugas vs. Manny Pacquiao, 12 rounds, for Ugas’ WBA “super” welterweight title
J Rey Soul is in the ring singing the national anthem of the Philippines
Results:
Robert Guerrero def. Victor Ortiz by unanimous decision
Fight recap coming up …
Magsayo stops Ceja in Round 10
Mark Magsayo scored a brutal knockout of Julio Ceja in a WBC featherweight title eliminator, warming up the Filipino faithful on hand to watch their hero Manny Pacquiao.
The 26-year-old landed a right hand that rendered Ceja senseless on his feet before a second right hand left the Mexican unconscious on the ring mat.
Magsayo, who is promoted by Pacquiao, will now be guaranteed a 126-pound title shot. He might be ready, too. Ceja, a former 122-pound champion, was a massive step up in class for Magsayo.
Ceja was also dropped in Round 1, the result of a left hook that caught him cold in the opening seconds. He rallied as the fight waged on and scored a knockdown of his own in Round 5, a left hook flooring Magsayo after a series of right hands to the body slowed him down.
Now, Magsayo has finally tasted adversity in the ring and proved he could handle it. Next he’ll have to prove he can take care of better fighters.
Castro demolishes Escandon for KO victory
Carlos Castro scored the biggest win of his budding career on Saturday night, notching a 10th-round KO of durable fringe contender Oscar Escandon.
The 27-year-old Mexican boxer dropped Escandon in Round 10 of the brutal featherweight bout — the second knockdown of the match — and this time, the Colombian fighter was in no shape to continue.
Escandon, 37, had weathered the storm several times earlier in the pay-per-view opener. In fact, he started strong by hurting Castro at the end of the first round, buckling the 11-1 favorite with a left hook.
However, Castro (27-0, 12 KOs) used his range and height to punch down on the smaller man, and in Round 6, he pummeled Escandon before the bell. Escandon walked back to his corner on unsteady legs, and in Round 7, he was dropped for the first time in the contest. Rather than clinch, Escandon (26-6, 18 KOs) slugged his way back into the fight, pushing Castro back with a flurry before the bell.
Escandon has now lost four of five contests, all against quality opposition and all inside the distance. The other defeats came to Gary Russell Jr., Brandon Figueroa and Tugstsogt Nyambayar.
Castro now appears well on his way to a title shot at 126 pounds in the not-too-distant future.
Contreras upsets Dato
Angel Antonio Contreras scored a unanimous decision win over John Dato in an eight-round featherweight fight, handing the latter his first pro defeat. The cards read 78-73, 77-74 and 77-74 for Contreras, who improved to 11-4-2 with 6 KOs.
The 27-year-old Mexican fighter beat Dato to the punch in a bout that was mostly contested on the inside. The victory is Contreras’ first in his past four fights.
Dato, a 28-year-old Filipino fighter, is now 14-1-1.
Spencer outclasses Villalobos for decision win
Mickel Spencer, the brother of undefeated prospect Joey Spencer, was successful in his pro debut. The 17-year-old from Union City, California, scored a shutout unanimous decision over Eliseo Villalobos in a four-round lightweight fight. All three judges scored it the same: 40-36.
Mickel Spencer was in control from the opening bell and cruised.
Villalobos (1-2, 0 KOs), a 21-year-old from Simi Valley, California, has lost two straight after winning his pro debut.
Source:ESPN
