Spence has a torn retina, so Pacquiao will challenge Ugas instead

Unified titlist scheduled for Surgery on Wednesday

Unified welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. has been diagnosed with a torn retina in his left eye, forcing him to withdraw on Tuesday from next week’s defense against Manny Pacquiao, which loomed as one of the biggest fights of the year.

However, the show will go on with Pacquiao instead challenging Yordenis Ugas for his version of the welterweight title in the new main event of the Premier Boxing Champions card on Aug. 21 (Fox Sports PPV, 9 p.m. ET) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Ugas had been scheduled to defend his 147-pound belt for the first time against Fabian Maidana in the co-feature but instead will step into the main event and face Pacquiao, PBC announced.

“I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao on Aug. 21,’’ Spence said in a statement. “I was excited about the fight and the event. Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery on it ASAP and that there was no way I could fight with my eye in that condition. I’d like to apologize to everyone. You know I’ll be back as soon back soon. We’ve come back from worse.”

The tear was discovered during a routine pre-fight medical examination by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in Las Vegas on Monday. Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), a 31-year-old southpaw, who was due to make his sixth title defense, flew back home to Dallas on Tuesday and will have surgery to repair the tear on Wednesday. Retina tears were once usually career-ending injuries for boxers, but with the advancement of technology that is no longer the case and he is expected to make a full recovery and return to the ring.

Pacquiao, who is also a senator in his native Philippines, and Ugas did not hesitate to accept fighting each other on short notice.

“First and foremost, I ask everyone to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery for Errol Spence Jr.,’’ Pacquiao said. “Thank God his physical examination discovered his eye condition before he suffered any further damage. I have agreed to fight Yordenis Ugas on Aug. 21 for the WBA welterweight super championship. The proper way and the only way to win a world title is inside the ring.”  

In Pacquiao’s last fight, in July 2019 in Las Vegas, he scored a very impressive win over Keith Thurman, knocking him down in the first round and winning a decision to take his unbeaten record and WBA welterweight “super” title. At age 40, he had become the oldest fighter in history to win a welterweight world title.

However, the WBA unceremoniously stripped Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), a 42-year-old southpaw, of the title in January, supposedly due to inactivity during a pandemic, and reclassified him as a so-called “champion in recess.”

When Pacquiao was stripped the WBA elevated Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs), 35, a 2008 Cuban Olympic bronze medalist, who defected and fights out of Miami, from “regular” titlist to “super” titleholder. So, Pacquiao will be fighting for the title he never lost in the ring after winning it from Thurman.

“It’s an unfortunate turn of events that Errol has a retinal tear and subsequent surgery has prevented him from participating in this big pay-per-view event. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to his return to the ring,’’ said Tom Brown, president of TGB Promotions. “We’re excited that Manny has agreed to move forward and Ugas has stepped up to defend his title against the man who once held the title.

“Ugas was in the co-feature and had been preparing to fight on this date, so he’s ready. It’s a major challenge, because now he has to make his first title defense against a boxing legend in a career-defining fight.”

Ugas won the vacant secondary belt by split decision against Abel Ramos in September 2020 before being elevated when Pacquiao was stripped. Ugas has not fought since the fight with Ramos.

“It’s an honor to fight the great multiple division world champion Manny Pacquiao, as I am more than ready to take on this challenge,” Ugas said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight. I’ve been in camp working hard with my coach Ismael Salas and I know together we will come up with a masterful game plan to combat anything Manny will bring to the ring. I wish Errol Spence Jr. a speedy recovery and I want to ensure the fans that I will be at my best for this fight.” 

“Everyone knows my story about how I came to America to follow my dreams of becoming a world champion, and now it’s time to stamp my legacy with a victory as one of the best Cuban fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves. I love my country and I want to dedicate this fight to all the men and women who are fighting for freedom.”

Photo: Ryan Hafey/PBC