Welterweight contender Shawn ‘Showtime’ Porter 31-3-1 (17) has praised WBA 147-pound champion Yordenis Ugas 27-4 (12) for his underdog victory over Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao 62-8-2 (39) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
The 35-year-old Cuban champion displayed a tight defence and used an educated jab to keep the 42-year-old Pacquiao guessing while he set up his right hand.
When the dust settled Ugas was awarded the victory by scores of 115-113 and 116-112 twice.
After the fight Pacquiao complained of leg cramps but Porter – who won a hotly disputed split decision against Ugas in March 2019 – says there was more to it than that.
“Yordenis Ugas was well-prepared for this fight,” Porter said to FightHype. “He was prepared for this fight probably two or three years ago when he lost to me.
“Ugas was extremely prepared and I think some things happened in the ring that Manny wasn’t really prepared for. I think before he could make any kind of adjustments, the routine had set in.
“More than anything, when he says his legs were hurting, he was referring to fatigue, which can set in for the second half of a fight, especially when your 42.
“It was still an exciting fight. We definitely have to give salutes to Yordenis Ugas and his camp, [trainer Ismael] Salas. They did a terrific job. It was definitely good tactics and good boxing from Ugas.
“Yordenis Ugas did a terrific job of holding his ground and knowing what he had to do in terms of how he was going to defend Manny Pacquiao and what he was going to do to offset Manny Pacquiao.
“The questions he posed from the opening bell never allowed Manny to find a rhythm.
“So when you’re talking about my legs were fatigued, and I was tired, I know from experience. When a fighter gets you here [mentally], everything else goes.
“Before you think that the 42 got him, realise that Ugas did some things to stop that 42-year-old from doing any of the things he did when he was 40 against Keith Thurman and anything he did before that.
“What Ugas did to start the fight set the tone and carried itself out. I just thought it was terrific. I love boxing, I love the art of boxing and I love what Ugas did a couple of nights ago.”
Many fans and pundits believe that Pacquiao should hang up his gloves following the loss, but Porter is in two minds.
“I think you’re going to have one last fight at home in Manilla, take Yordenis over there, pay that man, make your adjustments and show your greatness,” Porter said.
“I would still love for him to retire tomorrow. My option A is to retire, but if you’re going to keep going, we don’t want to see you against Robert Guerrero.
“The road only gets harder. The road doesn’t get easier beyond Ugas. I say take Ugas to Manilla, pay that man, make those adjustments, show your greatness, beat him, and then call it a day.
“I will go on record that given a second chance, Manny Pacquiao and his corner could make adjustments and come into the ring differently.
“I would wonder if Salas would prepare for any more or less they prepare for. Obviously, with a full camp to prepare for Pacquiao, what do they bring differently to the ring?
“Come on, a rematch makes sense and a rematch would be great because we saw number one and number one was damn good if not great.”
