The WBA Makes Final Ruling On Yordenis Ugas – Eimantas Stanionis
The World Boxing Association (WBA) has made a final decision regarding a contest between WBA world welterweight “super” champion Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) and #1 contender Eimantas Stanionis (13-0, 9 KOs).
Per an August 20 press release, the sanctioning body has ruled Ugas must next fight against Staniosis. They’ve given the two parties 30 days to negotiate a deal, or it will go to a purse bid. Ugas-Staniosis is one part of a four-man tournament to merge all of the titles within the WBA at the welterweight division.
This decision comes after Ugas asked for an exemption on September 16. He desires a fight against unified IBF/WBC world welterweight champ Errol Spence Jr. Ugas is coming off the biggest win of his career, defeating boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in August of 2021. He wanted to capitalize on that even further with a big-money fight against Spence.
However, Spence is still recovering from a detached retina. So, one could understand the rationale behind the WBA’s decision. With Spence on the shelf for the foreseeable future, there’s nothing to deter a contest between Ugas and Stanionis.
It is expected that the winner of Ugas and Stanionis will face the winner of the October 30 contest between WBA “regular” 147 pound champ Jamal James and Radzhab Butaev, ranked #5 by the WBA.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
