In a WBC welterweight title eliminator, Yordenis Ugás (24-4, 11 KOs) schooled previously undefeated former world champion Omar “El Panterita” Figueroa Jr. (28-1-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Scores were 119-107 across the board.
A right uppercut by Ugas got things started, finding its mark and moments later Ugas followed up with a right hand, knocking down Figueroa as his glove touch the rope while staggering. Referee Russell Mora officially ruled it a knockdown. Ugas was warned for holding in round two as Figueroa stood close to him fighting on the inside. Continuing to hold, Ugas was deducted a point in the fifth but pressed and stood close to Figueroa.
The Cuban’s long reach and size made it complicated for Figueroa’s inside style as Figueroa could not get going. Ugas used flurries late in the rounds to wear down Figueroa, tagging him flush in the process. Late in the fight in the championship rounds, Figueroa sensed the urgency as he attempted to get going but Ugas made things complicated cruising his way to a unanimous decision.
With the win, Ugas hands Figueroa his first defeat and becomes the mandatory WBC challenger.
Score why so narrow like that, manny at least win 116-112
I stopped following Figueroa for a hot minute for no reason in particular. Then I saw his name on the card and thought “why???”. What happened to this kid and why is he at Welter? I hope this isn’t another what if story. Go back down buddy, these cats are too big for you.
Ugas is the uncrowned champion. He was robbed against Shawn Porter. Porter will lose his champion to Spence. When Spence moves up to Jr. Mid next year, he will win one of the 2 vacant titles. Ugas is a special talent. So happy he is finally getting the push he so rightfully deserves.
Figueroa made this a horrible fight. He should move down to 140. On a plus note I’ve found a load of amateur fights on my old vhs tapes of Ugas in various championships.
As usual another PPV card with a good main event and a not so good undercard. Especially Ugas and Figureoa. Figureoa should have never gone over 140 if he couldn’t make 135. Ugas was a big disappointment holding and hitting an inferior opponent. He looked very good in defeating “The New” Ray Robinson and then not to take Figureoa out with a good body attack you have to wonder whose he going to beat at 147?
“whose he going to beat at 147?” Dude, he just whooped Sean Porter. Who is the current WBC champ in the division.
Manny Pacquiao was mainly a winner with the first round knockdown. He also hurt the over confident Thurman later in the fight with a good body shot. I scored it 114-113 Pacquiao. Whether Thurman can regain the same skills prior to his over 2 year lay-off we will see. Pacquiao got robbed in the Horn fight and has come back very well. The talk was he should have retired after that loss and I thought “why doesn’t Horn retire!” It was obvious he would be an ex-champ after that robbery win. Pacquiao like other’s coming to the US have kept boxing alive for years.