• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Sunday, September 24, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Boxer Yordenis Ugas Aims To Take Down Another Southpaw 

by zenger.news
April 16, 2022
20
SHARES
407
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

Unbeaten IBF/WBC counterpart Errol Spence (left) will clash Saturday with Cuban WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime).



By Lem Satterfield

Yordenis Ugas wants to add Errol Spence to his impressive list of vanquished southpaw champions.


The Cuban WBA 147-pound champion has been calling out IBF/WBC champion Spence for quite a while, and he’ll face “The Truth” in a unification bout on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Although Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) is in the fight of his life against Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), the 2008 bronze medalist has a history of career dominance over southpaws.

“When you’re a southpaw, I know how to handle it,” said Ugas, 35, who will battle Spence in a Premier Boxing Champions event to be televised live on Showtime Pay Per View (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

“I fight better against southpaws than I do against right-handers. I have power and confidence against southpaws. I have a special technique against southpaws that works for me.”

Ugas claims “a special technique against southpaws,” having triumphed in amateur victories over left-handed current and past champions Terence Crawford, Khabib Allakverdiev and Julius Indongo.

In August, Ugas retired left-handed eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision in Las Vegas, improving his professional record against southpaws to 6-1 (3 KOs).

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Professional victories over left-handed opponents include a fourth-round stoppage of Bryant Perrella (September 2016), and, in 2018, a seventh-round TKO of Ray Robinson (February) as well as a unanimous decision over Cesar Miguel Barrionuevo (September).

Now Ugas is ready for Spence, who returns for the first time since vanquishing two-division champion Danny Garcia (December 2020) by unanimous decision. That bout came on the heels of Ugas  being hospitalized in critical condition in October 2019 from a car crash which involved him being ejectioned from his flipping Ferrari.

“I promise you blood, sweat, and everything that I have to give for my country and for my fans,” Ugas said. “For everyone watching the pay-per-view, you’re going to see the same Ugas that put his heart and soul into this sport that means so much to me.”

Yordenis Ugas (center) celebrates his victory that dethroned Manny Pacquiao as WBA welterweight champion last August with trainer Ismael Salas (left). (Scott Kirkland/Fox Sports).

Ugas accepted the Pacquiao fight on 11 days’ notice, replacing Spence after the latter suffered a torn retina in his right eye which required surgery to repair.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“I did my job against Manny Pacquiao. I took the fight on 11 days’ notice. Whatever Spence said about what he would have done against Pacquao, I’m not concerned. I’m only focused on the challenge that I have against Spence,” said Ugas, whose four, short-notice victories include those over former interim champion Jamal James (August 2016) and title challenger Thomas Dulorme (August 2017).

“I am a warrior. I was ready for Pacquiao and I’m going to be ready for Spence. I not only accepted this fight, I pushed for this fight. You know how long I’ve been calling for this fight, and how long I’ve wanted this fight? Four years. I have wanted this for so long. Spence is one of the best in the world and I’m so glad that I get to face him. I’m ready to prove that everything I’ve done so far wasn’t a fluke.”

Ugas is 12-1 (5 KOs) under trainer Ismael Salas at 147 pounds since 2016, his lone setback being a disputed split-decision to then-WBC champion Shawn Porter in March 2019.

A legal 10th-round punch from Ugas caused a cut around the right eye of Porter, who lost his very next bout and his WBC title by split-decision to Spence in September 2019.

“Spence punches a little harder and definitely landed the cleaner shots against me and touched me much more than Ugas did, using his ability to make adjustments,” said Porter of Spence, who has edges in height (5-foot-9½ inches to 5-foot-9 inches) and reach (72 inches to 69 inches) over Ugas.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“Ugas’ right hand might be the best aspect for the fight for him against Spence,” Porter said, “Ugas has an awkward way of throwing it from an angular, overhand place. It’s been a key against southpaws as it was in the case of Ugas’ fight with Pacquiao, and it could be a key for him against Errol Spence.”

Following Porter, Ugas has scored a one-knockdown, near shutout unanimous decision over previously undefeated former champion Omar Figueroa (July 2019), and, in 2020, a seventh-round stoppage of Mike Dallas (February) and a title-winning split-decision over rugged Abel Ramos (September).

“It has been a long time— over six years, of hard work with Yordenis Ugas. Finally, Yordenis will get what we’ve been working for,” said Salas of Ugas, whose victory over Ramos made him Cuba’s first 147-pound champion since Jose Naples defeated Curtis Cokes in April 1969.

A 6-year-old Ugas began boxing as a means of overcoming poverty.

“I’m a warrior. I’m a competitor. I’ve been facing adversity ever since I was 6 or 7 years old. I’ve been fighting ever since I was a little kid. This is nothing new to me,” Ugas said.

“I come from a humble family that had no roof over their head. These are things that toughen you up when you’re young and make you who you are in life. It’s going to be a great night for me but no different than any other fight that I’ve had throughout my boxing career.”

As an amateur, Ugas handled future professional champions Crawford, Allakhverdiev, Indongo, Darlys Perez, Francisco Vargas, Jose Pedraza and Sadam Ali.

“I beat ‘Bud’ Crawford, 27-10, in the 2007 Pan American Games,” said Ugas. “It was an awesome fight, but I always knew Crawford had greatness in him and a bright future in the sport.”

Ugas’s defection through Mexico to Miami left behind his parents and several cousins as he went 5-0 with three knockouts within his first five months as a professional. Ugas was 11-0 (5 KOs) before suffering his first loss by eight-round unanimous decision to then-undefeated Johnny Garcia in March 2012.

“I had to leave Cuba on a speedboat. It’s been a long, hard road. I had to go through a lot to get to where I am today.I had to overcome everything alone. Not only professionally, but personally,” Ugas said.

Yordenis Ugas (left) in action against Manny Pacquiao last August. Ugas won the bout, which he had accepted on just 11 days’ notice. (Scott Kirkland/Fox Sports).

“I’ve wanted to be free my whole life. I want to be able to provide for my family (back in Cuba). The only way that it is possible is to succeed here with something I love to do.”

But at 15-1 (7 KOs) in 2014, Ugas nearly retired from boxing following consecutive split- and unanimous decision losses to then-unbeatens Emanuel Robles (February) and Amir Imam (May).

Then, he met Salas.

“Ismael Salas is one of the best trainers in the world. When I was out of the sport for over two years, I went to the gym with him and he built me back up. People know my story by now. I came back from being 15-3 back in 2016,” said Ugas, who has competed from 146½ -to-158½ pounds.

“Ever since then, I have established myself as part of the elite in this division. If [Errol Spence] is the big fish, I belong in that same tank because I’m willing to swim with the big fishes whenever, wherever. I have been willing to do whatever it takes to get to where I am right now.”

Recommended from our partners



The post Boxer Yordenis Ugas Aims To Take Down Another Southpaw  appeared first on Zenger News.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Gophers football coach learned patience from autistic son

Next Post

American Research Team Puts New Spin On Old Technique To Produce 3D-Printed Organs

zenger.news

You Might Also Like

60th anniversary of Birmingham church bombing unites families of victims and perpetrators
Opinion

Four Little Girls

Blue Line extension planning moves forward after two key votes
Local

Blue Line extension planning moves forward after two key votes

Compton's Finest
Arts & Culture

Fall into new jazz releases

Black Business Spotlight: Thoroughbred Moving and Installation
Black Business Spotlight

Black Business Spotlight: Thoroughbred Moving and Installation

Comcast donates free WiFi access to four Twin Cities nonprofits to increase digital opportunities in the region
Local

Comcast donates free WiFi access to four Twin Cities nonprofits to increase digital opportunities in the region

Two new early vote centers open in Minneapolis
Local

Early voting begins Sept. 22 for local elections

Next Post
A technician checks on a 3D printer as it constructs a model human figure in the exhibition '3D: printing the future' in the Science Museum on October 8, 2013 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens to the public tomorrow, features over 600 3D printed objects ranging from: replacement organs, artworks, aircraft parts and a handgun. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

American Research Team Puts New Spin On Old Technique To Produce 3D-Printed Organs

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 25
6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Community Roundtable with Ayodele Casel and Torya Beard

Sep 26
7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Climate and Equity in Minneapolis: What we could win in this year’s budget

Sep 27
8:00 am-12:45 pm

It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

%d bloggers like this: