Yordenis Ugas becomes the WBA full champion after Manny Pacquiao becomes “champion in recess!”
The WBA has announced that Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (62-7-3, 39KOs) has been made champion in recess. In the process, Yordenis “54 Milagros” Ugas (26-4, 12KOs) previously the WBA “regular” champion, will now take Pacquiao’s place as the full champion!
The Filipino senator hasn’t fought since winning the title against Keith Thurman (29-1, 22KOs) back in July 2019. Now he is reportedly in talks to face WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18KOs) sometime in the fall in a exhibition bout. The potential “money fight” with he Golden Boy protege could potentially be why the WBA put his champion status on hold.
Ugas defeated Abel Ramos (26-4-2, 20KOs) in September of 2020 to win the vacant WBA regular title via split decision. This move isn’t overly surprising due to the fact that Pacquiao has spoken openly about facing MMA star Connor McGregor in a boxing match. However, with McGregor getting trounced by Dustin Poirier in their rematch, that fight has gone up in smoke.
The Cuban has been seeking the big fights in his division ever since losing a highly disputed decision against former WBC welterweight champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter in March 2019. That fight was Porter’s only defense of the WBC title before ultimately losing it to Errol Spence in September 2019.
Since then, Ugas has reeled off three consecutive impressive wins. One against previously undefeated and highly respected contender Omar Figueroa. Now with the WBA super title in his possession he’s in line to face Spence in a high stakes unification clash.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
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