Photo Ryan Hafey - PBC
WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) of Cuba won the biggest fight of his career by defeating winning eight-division world champion former welterweight champion Philippine Senator and future hall of famer Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KO's) Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Slated to fight on the co-feature, the 35-year-old Ugás came in as the replacement after welterweight champion Errol Spence, Jr. was forced to withdraw due to an eye injury. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Ugas retained his WBA welterweight title in winning a unanimous decision.
Pacquiao attacked from the start unloading a combination backing Ugas. The Cuban was able to time Pacquiao's speed as he connected with a straight right set up by the jab. In what was a very intense opening round. Studying each other in the second, Pacquiao and Ugas simmered it down as they exchanged with the jab. Ugas sneaked in a hard right hand in the third, Pacquiao continued with the intensity going right at Ugas. In the fourth round, referee Russell Mora warned Ugas for a low blow, Pacquiao continued to attack but Ugas remained poised boxing patiently behind the jab.
Ugas connected Pacquiao with the right hand numerous times in the fifth but Pacquiao continued with his furious assault. It appeared to be a chess match to begin the sixth but Ugas connected with a thumping right hand, Pacquiao responded with an offensive assault to close the round. The Cuban fighter connected once again with the right hand as he was timing Pacquiao's offense. Pacquiao continued his offensive attack as Ugas appeared to be timing too much, lacking offense but connecting with bold shots.
Late in the fight in the ninth, Pacquiao stepped up his attack as he appeared more confident in his approach, Ugas was limited with his offense. Pacquiao backed Ugas up in the tenth as he continued his attack. The championship rounds was all Pacquiao as he pressed, Ugas continued to be limited with his punches but landed a hard right hand that stumbled. The twelfth and final round saw Ugas land a hard right hand that sent Pacquiao across the ring, Ugas continued to tag Pacquiao with the right hands as he finished the fight strong.
In the end the judges scored the bout 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113.
Veteran welterweights Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (37-6-1, 20 KO's) of Gilroy, California defeated “Vicious” Víctor Ortiz (32-7-3, 25 KO's) from Garden City, Kansas met in the co-feature bout. A fast paced start as Ortiz attacked and Guerrero stayed close ripping Ortiz with uppercuts in round two. The third round saw Ortiz and Guerrero continuing to trade as neither held back. In the fourth, Guerrero and Ortiz exchanged on the inside as Ortiz appeared to be cut on the right eye, Guerrero targeted the cut. The left eye of Guerrero was swelling shut to begin the fifth as the fight on the inside continued.
Photo: Scott Kirkland/FOX Sports
Past the halfway point in the sixth, the fight continued in the phone booth as Guerrero and Ortiz traded. Guerrero appeared to have a mouse on his left eye. In the seventh, Guerrero chased as Ortiz retreated but the fight continued closely on the inside. Guerrero appeared to be the busier as he kept letting his hands go inside but Ortiz also displayed some offense. The tenth and final round saw Ortiz and Guerrero come out slugging on the inside as the fighters sensed the urgency.
All three judges scored the fight 96-94.
“It felt good to be back in the ring with fans and I definitely fed off of their energy. I knew this was going to be an all-out war. Victor Ortiz brought the best out of me tonight. It was back and forth action the entire fight and I came out on top as I predicted," Robert Guerrero said after the fight. "Now I’m ready to step up and fight anyone they put in front of me. I have a lot left in me and I’m in this sport to win another world title. I dedicate this fight to my family and I give all the glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ,”
Undefeated Filipino featherweight Mark Magsayo (23-0, 16 KO's) scored a huge knockout over former world champion Julio Ceja (32-5-1, 28 KO's) of Mexico in a WBC title eliminator. Seconds into the fight, a flush left hook to the kisser by the Filipino Magsayo dropped Ceja as he quickly got up. Letting his hands go in the second, Magsayo displayed the hand speed as boxed Ceja pressed. In the third, Ceja attacked inside attacking the body and connecting with short hooks up top. Ceja continued to attack on the inside in round four as he appeared to slow down Magsayo's groove.
Staying close in the fifth, Ceja continued to attack Magsayo as he appeared to slow down the Filipino's pace knocking him down in the final seconds. In the sixth, Ceja stayed on top of Magsayo cutting the ring and going downstairs to the body. Momentum appeared to be going Ceja's way past the halfway point in the seventh as he continued to chop down the Filipino. Magsayo stuck the jab and kept his distance as the Mexican continued to stalk and work his way inside digging the body.
Ceja continued to press in the ninth with hard shots as Magsayo kept boxing away from a distance. Magsayo attacked early to start the tenth, a huge knocked Ceja out cold as the referee immediately waived the fight.
"I just worked a lot on the straight punches. I kept working it round after round and when I saw he was hurt, I followed up. I’m so glad for the outcome. I expected his style to make it happen and I expected a knockout tonight.
“I got knocked down and was surprised, but I focused my mind on what I wanted, a world championship shot. It’s my dream today and now it’s coming true. Hopefully my next fight is a world title shot."
Opening up the FOX Sports PPV card undefeated Carlos Castro (27-0, 12 KO's) of Phoenix was impressive scoring a stoppage over Colombian slugger Oscar Escandon (26-6, 18 KO's) in the tenth and final round.
Getting started right away Escandon and Castro tested each other with solid punches in the opening round. Escandon attacked inside backing Castro to the ropes early on. In the fourth, Castro shot a straight right hand snapping Escandon's head. Boxing away in the fifth, Castro circled the ring as Escandon stalked looking for the power shot.
Past the halfway point towards the end of the sixth round, Castro backed Escandon to the ropes with a series of shots as the Columbian appeared to be staggering to his corner. A solid right hand by Castro in the seventh hurt Escandon as he kept fighting and slipped. The action continued in the center as Escandon was not done throwing looping haymakers as Castro boxed. Late in the fight sticking to plan, Castro kept boxing in the eighth as Escandon continued to be the aggressor. Keeping his distance away from the power of the Colombian, Castro fought conservatively and then hurt Escandon as Castro put him away with a combination as he was up on his feet but kneeled forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:08 of the tenth.
Other Bouts
Angel Contreras (11-4-2, 6 KO's) of Monterrey, Mexico handed Filipino featherweight John Dato (14-1-1, 9 KO's) his first defeat via unanimous decision. Starting off trading in the opening round, Dato and Contreras did not shy away from exchanging. In round two, Contreras connected with a solid right hand. A snapping right uppercut by Contreras dropped Dato as he got up and continued to fight. Dato was bloodied as Contreras pressed him throughout the fight. Late in the fight in the final round Dato attacked but appeared to be too late. The Mexican kept firing away standing and trading to the final bell. 78-73, 77-74, and 77-74.
Making his pro debut Mikel Clements of Union City, California decisioned Eliseo Villalobos of Simi Valley, California. Exchanging solidly in the opening round, Clements and Villalobos did not hold back.
Dallas super middleweight Burley Brooks (6-2-1, 5 KO's) and Camero Rivera (9-6-4, 6 KO's) went the distance to a draw in a six round bout. Brooks and Rivera had their solid exchanges throughout the fight and finished strong. The judges scored the bout 59-55 Brooks 58-56 Rivera, and 57-57 even.
Undefeated lightweight prospect Frank Martin (14-0, 11 KO's) of Detroit won a unanimous decision over Ryan Kielczweski (30-5, 11 KO's). Fighting at a fast pace early on Martin and Kielczweski exchanged good shots. There was a clash of heads in round three as they continued to box. Martin displayed the speed as Kielczweksi was in top shape bringing it making Martin work. Martin began to control the pace halfway through attacking Kielczweski. Credit to Kielczweski for hanging in as Martin looked for the knockout late in the fight as Kielczweski made Martin earn the victory. All three judges scored the bout 100-90.
Heavyweight Steve Torres (5-0, 5 KO's) of Reading, Pennsylvania made quick work of Justin Rolfe (6-3-1, 4 KO's). Torres pounded away on Rolfe as referee Robert Hoyle stopped the fight at 2:33.
In the opening bout from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, lightweight Jose Valenzuela (9-0, 6 KO's) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico impressively stopped Donte Strayhorn (12-4, 4 KO's) of Cincinnati. Valenzuela scored a knockdown early as a left stumbled Strayhorn his glove touch the canvas. Attacking and working patiently, Valenzuela busted up Strayhorn as referee Raul Caiz Sr. seen enough and stepped in to stop the fight at 1:29.
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