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Former WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás 27-5 (12) has spoken out about his loss to WBC and IBF boss Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr 28-0 (22) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday night.
The 35-year-old Ugás, originally from Cuba but now boxing out of Miami, Florida, started well against Spence but the Texan southpaw started to find his range in the middle rounds.
In the seventh Spence landed a blow to Ugás’ right eye that started it swelling. In the eighth Ugás was sent to the corner for the eye to be assessed by the ringside doctor. The bout was allowed to continue but Spence continued to target the eye, earning the stoppage at 0:59 of the 10th frame when the swelling became too severe to continue.
Next up for Spence – who was having his first bout in 16 months – is a likely four-belt unification bout against WBO boss Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford 38-0 (29) later this year.
Ugás won the WBA strap with a 12-round unanimous decision win over Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao in August last year when he stepped in at late notice to replace Spence who was forced to withdraw after suffering a retinal tear.
The loss to Spence will be a bitter pill to swallow for Ugás, who now has no choice but to go back to the drawing board.
“First of all I wanted to apologise for not coming to thank everyone who was supporting me in person after the fights, I have a fracture in my eye, and in the next few days, the doctors will say how they will treat it.
“Last night, I spent all morning in a hospital and I write these words with only one eye, the other one is still closed. But very important for me to write it for you.
“I want to thank and thank my family, my team, and every person who was supporting me. I want to congrats Errol Spence Jr, a great champ, and sharing the ring with him was an honour, he came as always sharp, and in the last rounds (7) he hit me in the eye and everything was even more difficult.
“The best man on top won from the ring. We have come this far by taking our wins and losses with humility. I am sad but at peace. Come back from the dark.
“And already at this point, I’ve fought amateur Crawford, [Shawn] Porter, [Manny] Pacquiao, and Spence are some of the best fighters in history and future Hall of Famers.
“I’m proud of what I’m doing, in and out of the ring. I have won millions of hearts. With the favor of God, there are great days to come… we will recover and come back stronger. Thank you all.”
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