On April 16 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Errol Spence Jr (27-0, 21 KO’s) takes on Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KO’s) in a welterweight title unification bout. Spence holds the WBC and IBF titles, and Ugas is the WBA (Super) champion.
Ugas cemented himself as the true WBA champ when he scored an upset win against the great Manny Pacquiao last August, sending ‘Pacman’ into retirement. The Cuban is now looking for back-to-back career defining wins, but this is a different proposition against an unbeaten, young Spence.
The timing cannot be any better for Ugas to get a huge win against Spence, with Ugas coming off a career-best victory and Spence’s prolonged inactivity due to a car accident and a retinal detachment in his left eye resulting in ‘The Truth’ fighting just once in 31 months. However, as Spence showed against Danny Garcia in his last fight in December 2020, even after a while away from the ring, Spence has the ability to perform at elite level. When Spence turns up in tip-top condition, which he always has done in his career, with a great jab, aggressive pressure, awareness and control of distance, relentless body punching and inside game, he is a formidable foe for anybody.
If anything, Spence feels that life-threatening car accident was a huge wake-up call that has benefited his life and career. Speaking on Showtime’s All Access, Spence said: “Before I was taking a lot of time off, just chilling, getting big, I wasn’t all the way into boxing. I had one foot in, one foot out, it wasn’t two feet in. I wasn’t doing the things that got me there.”
Spence continued to say: “The car accident might’ve snapped me back into reality, like got me back on the right track.”
The most logical fight to make in the welterweight division, and arguably in boxing, is Spence vs Terence Crawford, a generational showdown to determine the best of this welterweight era, but as an alternative to that ever-elusive bout, Spence taking on Ugas in a unification makes the most sense.
With hopes that Spence and Crawford may one day face off in a dream showdown, this fight is huge. If Spence wins, a fight against Crawford would be for undisputed status at 147 lbs. If Spence loses to a very capable Ugas, the Cuban will have put the final nail in the coffin and derailed hopes of that fight ever happening.
Spence seemingly has aspirations of finally facing Crawford, and is aware that the challenge of Ugas cannot be overlooked in order for the Crawford fight to happen. Speaking during his media work-out, Spence said: “I’m trying to get that fight (Crawford) done, but right now the only way that fight can be done is if I beat Ugas, so that’s what I’m 100% focused on.”
As one of the top pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, Spence will be the favourite heading into this clash. As is the case now, he was doubted ahead of the fight against Danny Garcia, with many questioning whether he would ever be the same fighter again following his car accident, before he shone with a comprehensive clinic, winning via unanimous decision. The same questions are being asked of Spence now, but the American’s shown the ability to display his class when he has something to prove.
Ugas has 27 wins from 31 fights, with losses to Johnny Garcia, Emanuel Robles, Amir Ahmed Imam and Shawn Porter.
However, for a bit more context, since the loss to Imam in May 2014, in 13 fights, Ugas’ only loss has been to Porter, a controversial one that many felt Ugas deserved to win on points, and the Cuban is in the form of his life.
Even for a special fighter like Spence who has previously shown the ability to overcome inactivity, fighting somebody as good as Ugas after one fight in 31 months presents a tough proposition. Ugas is an elite fighter. The Cuban has an educated jab, awareness of range and distance, good defence, body punching, likes to mix it up on the inside, is a great counter-puncher and is very good at setting traps.
Ugas seems to want all the smoke heading into this showdown. Speaking to Fight Hub TV through a translator, Ugas said: “This war’s going to be a knockout. Errol Spence comes to fight, he’s a very offensive fighter, and I’m an offensive fighter, so you bring that together and we’re going to make fireworks.”
Ugas has shown his toughness and bravery time and again, particularly in his biggest fights against Porter and Pacquiao, and if he is true to his word and is bringing offensiveness against Spence, fireworks can most definitely be expected, and Ugas’ heart and chin will be tested like never before under Spence’s heavy artillery and pressure.
Spence is the A side in perceived talent and public rankings, but Ugas has the momentum.
The Cuban also has creating history on his mind. Speaking on Showtime’s All Access documentary, Ugas said: “This would be the greatest win in Cuban boxing history. I’d be the first Cuban boxer to unify three belts. I’m very excited because there’s a lot at stake in this fight.”
If there is any ill effects whatsoever due to Spence’s injuries and inactivity, a man who has faced the adversity in life that Ugas has will have all the motivation and heart, along with his skill-set and talent, to take full advantage.
Spence wants to cement his name in the history books. He cannot afford a setback in his hometown. A future showdown against Crawford would be legacy defining. To keep those dreams alive, Ugas must be overcome by any means necessary.
By Sina Latif of SimBoxx
Twitter - @_sina93