Manny Pacquiao looks to fight off Yordenis Ugas, and again defy Father Time on August 21

On Saturday, August 21, living legend Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KO’s) will step into the ring for his latest world title fight in a career that has seen him step into the squared circle for an incredible 30+ world title bouts.

His current assignment will see him clock into work at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Philippine’s senator Pacquiao was expected to be in one of the year’s blockbuster, and highly anticipated, bouts against Errol Spence who was set to defend his welterweight titles in the main event of a FOX PPV broadcast.

However, Texas’ Spence suffered a torn retina in training camp and was forced to withdraw from the bout. In his place will be Cuban’s Yordenis Ugas, the WBA welterweight champion who was promoted to "super" champion after Pacquiao was declared, "champion in recess". (Yes, the WBA works hard at keeping fans as confused as possible, in each and every division, as to who is champion).

This will be Pacquiao’s first bout since his age-defying victory over Keith Thurman in July 2019 where he added the WBA strap to his already-stuffed trophy case. He will enter this bout with his 43rd birthday looming a few months away. And while continuing with his chosen profession in his 40’s is impressive, it shouldn’t be a surprise. He didn’t consider retirement when he was stopped in a couple of his early bouts 20+ years ago, he didn’t consider retirement when he lost back to back fights in 2012 (a ridiculous SD loss to Tim Bradley and a vicious KO loss to 4 fight foe Juan Manuel Marquez) and he will probably fight again after this bout.

In Ugas (26-4, 12 KO’s), he has an assignment that is easier than Spence but no walk in the park. The Cuban has never been stopped and has just one loss since 2015 while taking on some very good fighters. He challenged Shawn Porter for the WBC title a couple of years ago but dropped a SD 12. However, he did earn the vacant WBA title, in September 2020, with a SD win over Abel Ramos. But, does his resume stack up against Manny’s?

Not even close.

While you can’t ignore age in any fighter, even age-less Manny, by all reports he has looked great in camp and he should bring his career-defining speed and movement with him on fight night.

While fans were disappointed in not seeing Manny test himself against Spence, they are happy Manny is still fighting this weekend. A change of opponent, at the last minute, in a world title fight, (involving a fighter who could dictate anything he wanted), was nothing to Manny. He was training for a fight on August 23, if not against Spence then against who is next in line. He isn’t looking for YouTube stars, he isn’t looking for MMA fighters taking a shot at boxing, he is looking to build his legacy against other boxing champions.

This change of opponent may work out for Manny in the long run. He should beat Ugis and then he can take a break and look at a Spence bout after Spence’s eye is healed.

Reached for a comment as fight day approached Manny Pacquiao Promotions’ Sean Gibbons told MaxBoxing,

“People throw around the term legend all the time, but you aren’t off the mark when you talk about Manny. This is truly the last of an old school generation of fighters. The mentality of wanting to fight the best, the way he trains, everything. You won’t see a guy like this come along again for a long, long time – if ever”.

Asked if this is the last time we will see Pacquiao in the ring Gibbons was just focused on the task at hand.

“Manny has a tough assignment in Ugas, who is no easy fight. Manny will win this fight and then he will take some time and see what he wants to do next”, he said. “Obviously everyone wants to see the Spence fight but he has to heal up before anything can happen. Manny is just looking to win on Saturday and bring home another victory for the Philippine people. And he will. He’s looked fantastic in camp. The guy is really incredible. Viva Manny”.

Manny Paquiao is truly the last of the “old school” fighters of his era and like the old school warriors of the past, he will keep fighting until he doesn’t, age doesn’t come into it. It is what he does and what he has always done.

He is a fighter through and through.

Prediction: Pacquiao mid-late stoppage.

Manny Stats

*Turned pro 26 years ago, 71 professional bouts

*Only fighter 4-decade world champion in history (1990’s, 2000’s, 2010’s, 2020’s)

*Only boxer to win 12 world titles in 8 divisions

*First boxer to win lineal championship in 5 weight classes

*Oldest boxer to win a welterweight title at age 40