Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has failed to dethrone Cuban Yordenis Ugas as WBA welterweight champion. He lost the fight in front of more than 17,000 spectators at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on points (115-113, 116-112, 116-112).
For 42-year-old Pacquiao, it was his return to the ring after a two-year absence. He may now finally say goodbye to boxing. “I don’t know yet”, he replied afterwards when asked what his future plans are. “I want to thank the fans. I hope to have entertained them in over 20 years. This loss… That’s boxing. I want to congratulate my opponent. We made a nice camp out of it.”
Pacquiao has been a senator in his home country since 2016 and is mentioned as a possible candidate for the presidential elections in May 2022. With world titles in eight different weight classes, the Philippines is a living legend. ‘Pac-Man’ lost on Saturday for the eighth time in his career (against 62 victories and two undecided camps).
The 35-year-old Ugas has been a WBA titleholder since September 2020. His goal is to unite the welter titles. For that, he now has to pass the American Errol Spence, the champion at the IBF and WBC.
