By: Hans Themistode
Yordenis Ugas has successfully picked himself up from his bootstraps to become one of the more recognizable figures in the sport of boxing.
Since back-to-back defeats at the hands of Amir Imam and Emanuel Robles in 2014, the 35-year-old Cuban slugger has come out victorious in 12 of his last 13 contests. Undoubtedly, the climax of Ugas’s career took place just a few months ago.
On relatively short notice, Ugas stepped in to replace injured unified champion, Errol Spence Jr., to take on Manny Pacquiao. Initially, oddsmakers disregarded Ugas’s height, reach, and weight advantages, as well as his overall skillset, and pegged Ugas as a decided underdog.
Of course, Ugas would go on to defeat Pacquiao via unanimous decision. Now, as Ugas prepares to face the previously mentioned Spence Jr., on April 16th, at AT&T Stadium, the soft-spoken pugilist finds himself as an underdog once again.
Spence Jr., 32, has pushed every fighter placed in front of him out of his way through 27 spotless fights. Even with the unified titlist coming off a retinal detachment in his right eye just a few months ago, oddsmakers believe his unfortunate injury won’t have any bearing on his upcoming showdown against Ugas.
In addition to the betting world adding fuel to his fire, recently, Bernard Hopkins stated that Spence Jr. will go on to “smash” Ugas. With little to no support standing in his corner, Ugas has placed his blinders on and plowed ahead.
As he’s proven time and time again, Ugas knows exactly what the bright lights associated with a big fight feel like. With the biggest night of his professional life taking place in just under four weeks, Ugas is confidently waiting for his moment to arrive.
“I’m a fighter that thrives under pressure. People can underestimate me all they want. In the end, I know what I’m capable of when the lights come on and the pipes burst. I focus on myself and I know what I’m capable of on April 16th.”