Yordenis Ugas upset Manny Pacquiao to retain his WBA welterweight crown on Saturday, winning by unanimous decision after a bruising 12-round battle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ugas – drafted in at the 11th hour after Pacquiao’s original opponent Errol Spence Jr. withdrew through injury – dominated the Filipino icon with his jab and cleaner punching to win on all three cards by 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112.
The 35-year-old Cuban – who was awarded the belt after Pacquiao was stripped for ‘inactivity’ – takes his professional record to an impressive (25-0, 12 KOs) as he builds his profile in the welterweight.
It remains to be seen if this is the last time that Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 Kos) will step in the ring after a sensational career.