“TWENTY YEARS AGO, I WAS YORDENIS UGAS”— MANNY PACQUIAO

Sa kanyang pagharap kay Cuban Olympic boxer na si Yordenis Ugas (2008 bronze medalist sa boxing), isang senaryo ang nais ibahin ni eight division world boxing champion na si Manny Pacquiao. Dalawangpung taon na ang nakararaan, umupak si Pacquiao sa labas ng bansa. Nakatuntong siya sa U.S at lumaban sa junior featherweight division.

Naging replacement siya at inilaban noon kay IBF junior featherweight champion na si Lehlo Ledwaba. Siya ang ipinalit na sapat sana’t makalalaban ni Ledwaba na si Enrique Sanchez noong June 23, 2001.

Ang laban ay co-man-event ng HBO PPV card ng bakbakang Jaview Castillejo-Oscar De la Hoya para sa WBC super welterweight championship. Tinalo ni Pacquiao si Ledwaba sa six round stoppage. Ngayon, nabaliktwad naman ang sitwasyon, dahil si Ugas ang naging replacement ni Errol Spence Jr.

Noon, 2 weeks ang laban, nagging replacement si Pacquiao. Ngayon, naulit uli, pero si Ugas ang naging replacement.

“I know what Ugás is feeling because twenty years ago I was Ugás. I am not taking him for granted. In fact I am taking him as seriously as I took Errol Spence. I will not make the same mistake Ledwaba made with me. I still have the same hunger to win. I live for it. I have had a great training camp and I am well-prepared.”

“I want to prove to everyone, especially Yordenis Ugás, that I am still here. My title was given to Ugás. That is not how you become a champion. You earn it by winning it inside the ring. We will fight for the title. That is the proper way a champion is crowned,” ani Pacquiao.