Yordenis Ugas shocks Manny Pacquiao with unanimous decision to retain WBA title

Even forever young can get old.

Yordenis Denis scored an upset unanimous decision victory over legendary Manny Pacquiao at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. NV Saturday night.

The scores were 115-113, and 116-112 (twice)

Maxboxing scored Ugas the winner by a 116-112 tally.

In round one, Pacquiao popped jabs. He went to the body. Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) countered with his jab. He fired a number of them. A right to the body also landed. Southpaw Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) landed a couple of right hooks. Ugas opened round two popping jabs. Pacquiao, not using his legs as much, flurried. The taller Ugas dropped in a right. Pacquiao unleased a left.

Pacquiao fired a combination in round three. Ugas connected with a long right. Pacquiao fought back - Ugas blocked em. Pacquiao let his hands go with shots. A couple landed. Ugas connected with a combination.

In round four, Ugas kept jabbing. Pacquiao stepped in with shots. Ugas connected with an uppercut and a couple of rights. Pacquiao fired several right jabs. He landed two quick combos in round five. Ugas connected with a three-punch combination. Pacquiao landed two lead left hands.

The action continued in the middle of the ring in round six. Pacquiao got off first. Ugas connected with a hard right. Pacquiao landed a left. Ugas was winning the jabbing contest, but that alone wouldn’t win him the fight. Pacquiao flurried while Ugas finally began to let his right hand go more consistently. The blow would land again and again as the fight progressed.

Pacquiao connected with a sweeping right in round eight. Ugas scored with a clubbing blow. Pacquiao looked a little ragged. Ugas connected with a combination. Pacquiao fought back, but Ugas landed a right on the side of Pacquiao’s head.

The fight was very close after eight rounds. Ugas had done well in the last two rounds. The momentum appeared to be on his side. Pacquiao was finding it difficult to land punches. He did clip Ugas with a left but ate a combo.

Ugas caught Pacquiao with another right. In round 10, both fighters flurried. Ugas connected with a hard right. Pacquiao probed. Ugas doubled up on his jab. Pacquiao connected with his right, but a number of his punches were short. Ugas countered and scored, winning the round.

The last two heats could decide the fight. Ugas fired right hands - many found Pacquiao. Pacquiao went to the body. Also, to the head. Ugas fought back. A hard right knocked Pacquiao back a step.

Ugas was oozing confidence.

In the 12th and final round, Pacquiao, likely behind on the cards, ate a hard right again. Ugas jabbed. He was the stronger fighter. Pacquiao connected with some shots. Ugas didn’t blink - landing some of his own. The fight was his.

“I’m very excited,” said Ugas. “I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this moment in the ring today.”

“In the future, you may not see Manny Pacquiao in the ring,” Pacquiao said. “I don’t know. Let me rest first, relax and make a decision if I’ll continue to fight or not.”