Pacquiao-Spence PPV undercard features two more welterweight fights

Ugas to defend title; veterans Guerrero, Ortiz to meet

The welterweight division will be on display in more than just the much-anticipated main event between unified world titleholder Errol Spence Jr. and eight-division champion and living legend Manny Pacquiao on Aug. 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Premier Boxing Champions made the three-fight Fox Sports pay-per-view undercard official on Tuesday and it includes two other welterweight bouts.

In the co-feature, world titleholder Yordenis Ugas will make his first defense against Fabian Maidana, the younger brother of retired former welterweight and junior welterweight titlist Marcos Maidana.

There will also be a 10-round welterweight bout between southpaws Robert Guerrero and Victor Ortiz, long-faded former world titleholders, who have been in many exciting fights and are best known for losses to Floyd Mayweather in world title fights. A decade ago Guerrero-Ortiz would have been a marquee match.

In the opener, Mark Magsayo and former junior featherweight titlist Julio Ceja will square off in a 10-round featherweight bout.

The 35-year-old Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs), a 2008 Cuban Olympic bronze medalist, who defected and fights out of Miami, won the vacant WBA secondary belt by split decision against Abel Ramos last September and was later elevated to “super” titleholder when Pacquiao was unceremoniously stripped.

“Everyone knows I’m a warrior and will fight anyone on any given day, so when they presented me with this fight against Fabian Maidana, I accepted with no hesitation,” Ugas said. “The world will see why I am must-see TV.  I know one thing for sure — I’ll be letting my hands fly with bad intentions on Aug. 21.”

Maidana (18-1, 13 KOs), 29, of Argentina, will be taking massive step up in competition and has not beaten anyone of note to warrant a title shot. He has won two fights in a row against low-level opponents following a 10-round decision loss to Jaider Parra in January 2019.

“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for all my life,” Maidana said. “I’m thrilled to be part of such a huge fight card. I’m a man of few words, so all I can tell you is that Ugas is a great fighter but you guys will see the ‘TNT’ I have in each hand exploding on Ugas’ face on Aug. 21.”

Guerrero (36-6-1, 20 KOs), 38, a former featherweight and junior lightweight titleholder from Gilroy, California, retired in 2017 after three losses in a row but returned in late 2018 and has won all three of his fights since, albeit against poor opposition.

“It’s great to be back in the ring, especially on a big card like Pacquiao versus Spence,” Guerrero said. “Victor Ortiz and I were always on a collision course to fight, and now it’s finally happening. One thing I know for sure, we are going to throw blows and the fans are going to see an all-out war. My time out of the ring has only fueled my desire to give the fans a great fight.”

Ortiz (32-6-3, 25 KOs), 34, of Ventura, California, lost his welterweight title by memorable fourth-round knockout to Mayweather in 2011 and his career never recovered. He has not boxed since a charitable draw with former two-division titlist Devon Alexander in February 2018.

“I am thrilled to be back in the ring on this Pacquiao versus Spence Jr. pay-per-view undercard,” Ortiz said. “Robert Guerrero is a legend who I’ve always admired. I look forward to competing against him and giving fans the toe-to-toe battle they’re expecting. I’ve had a great camp and I’m so excited to be part of this enormous event. Thank you to everyone who has supported me, I’m ready to make history again.”

Magsayo (22-0, 15 KOs), 26, of the Philippines, will be fighting in the United States for the fifth time and taking on his most notable opponent.

“This is going to be a very good matchup against a world class fighter in Ceja,” Magsayo said. “I have been waiting for a chance like this and I am thankful to my whole team for this opportunity. It’s a dream come true to be on the undercard of my No. 1 idol, Senator Manny Pacquiao. On Aug. 21, I’m going to show people what I can do. This is going to be a classic Philippines versus  Mexico war.”

Ceja (32-4-1, 28 KOs), 28, of Mexico, briefly held a junior featherweight world title in 2015 and 2016. He is 0-2-1 in his last three fights and is coming off a split draw with Brandon Figueroa in November 2019.

“I’m back and I’m more than ready to return to the ring,” Ceja said. “A Mexican versus a Filipino is always guaranteed to be an exciting bout. I have even more motivation than ever being on a card headlined by Manny Pacquiao versus Errol Spence Jr. This fight is going to get me back into contending for a championship where I belong.”

Ugas photo: Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions