WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr 27-0 (21) views WBA champion Yordenis Ugás 27-4 (12) as just another step to becoming the undisputed champion of the world.
The 31-year-old Texan southpaw recovered from a high-speed single car accident in October 2019 only to suffer a retinal tear to his left eye just weeks before his scheduled clash with Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao 62-8-2 (39) in August last year.
Miami-based Cuban Ugás, 35, stepped in to fill the void and lifted the black belt from Pacquiao.
Spence will now face Ugás in a unification bout at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday night. He remains hopeful that he can get a shot at WBO boss Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford 38-0 (29) if he is successful against Ugás.
“It’s going to be action-packed on Saturday night. I’m looking to put on a great show and a great performance in front of my hometown fans,” Spence said.
“I know Ugás is coming to fight. I know his coach has a great game plan, but come Saturday night, I’m putting on a great show and another great performance. I’m looking forward to adding the WBA belt to my titles so I have three belts. That means there’s just one more to go.
“When people say I can’t do this or I can’t do that, I prove them wrong every time. I am the same guy I was before the accident and the injury. I feel like I’m better than that guy that fought Shawn Porter or Danny García.”
Spence is the short-priced favourite and is not expecting Ugás to go to the final bell in what will be his first bout since defeating former world champion Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia 36-3 (21) on points in December 2020.
“This fight might not go the distance,” Spence said. “Ugás is a tough fighter. He’s a guy that embraces the fight and wanting to go toe-to-toe. If he has to, he’ll do anything to win. I’m that type of guy. I’m the type of guy that if I have to go toe-to-toe, I will. If I have to stay there and fight, I will. If we get in the clinch and start fighting, I don’t think it’s going 12 rounds.
“Everybody knows my motivation. I fight for my family, my friends, my city, the whole state of Texas. I want to be the three-belt unified champion of the world and I want to become the future undisputed welterweight champion of the world. The first ever to do it.
“This is my house. This is my hometown. I love the Dallas Cowboys to death. I love AT&T Stadium and I appreciate them giving me the hospitality and making this my home. Come Saturday night, I’m going to win another championship in the home of the Cowboys.”
