It’s fight time

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao promised a “good fight” for the world to see Saturday (Sunday noon in Manila) when he faces Cuban statue Yordenis Ugas at the 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena here.

Pacquiao will come off a 25-month layoff, the longest in his legendary career that began in 1995. He will dispute the WBA (super) welterweight crown with the 35-year-old Ugas, a late replacement for Errol Spence Jr.

The deadly pandemic kept Pacquiao away from the ring and closer to his senatorial duties. He last fought on July 20, 2019 when he defeated formerly unbeaten Keith Thurman at the MGM.

And now, the only boxer on the planet to win world titles in eight different weight classes is back to entertain.

“I’m excited to win another world championship,” said the Filipino senator, who will have other things in mind, things far greater than his boxing career, in this showdown that was not part of the original plan.

Ugas, who was handed the belt due to Pacquiao’s inactivity, took the fight on a 10-day notice after Spence, the WBC and IBF champion, found out he had a torn retina in his left eye during a mandatory medical test.

“I don’t care who has the belt right now. We’ll see who walks out of the ring with it,” said Pacquiao, who is 118 days short of his 43rd birthday. He will carry a 62-7-2 record and his future into the ring.

“But I’m happy that Ugas is here to challenge me,” he said of the 5-foot-9 boxer from Cuba which produces the finest cigars and Olympic boxing champions.

Definitely, Father Time is not on Pacquiao’s side.

“But being out of the ring has given me time to rest and get motivated like in my earlier days. I can’t wait to display it all on fight night. This could be my last fight or there could be more,” he said.

Pacquiao has 39 knockouts under his belt but has not scored any since he stopped Lucas Matthysse of Argentina in Kuala Lumpur in 2018. He wants one here if indeed this would be his last fight.

“If there’s a chance for a knockout then I’ll go for it because that’s what I want to give to the fans. I’m not underestimating Ugas though. I know I have to be very good to win this fight,” he added.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was more specific when he issued a forecast before mediamen Friday.

“KO in six (rounds),” said Roach.

“He’s (Ugas) not the biggest puncher in the world. But he’s okay. He’s a good opponent. This is going to be a good fight,” added the trainer, who is clueless if this indeed is Pacquiao’s last fight.

“When I asked him about any future fight he just smiled. But if I see him slowing down, I’d be the first to tell him to retire. But that hasn’t happened yet,” said Roach.

“I think Manny will start fast and it will be a very, very quick fight,” he added, ahead of the global icon’s first outing in this pandemic.

Ugas, a bronze medalist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, speaks to reporters here through an interpreter.

“I just don’t believe I can be stopped by Manny. I have prepared for 12 hard rounds,” said the title-holder and underdog.

Betting lines on the eve of the fight showed Pacquiao at -375 (you need to drop $375 to win $100) and Ugas at +295 (any $100 wins $295).

“If this is Pacquiao’s final fight, then he’s going to be up against a guy who brought his best and who is a world-class fighter,” added Ugas, who has the body of a world-class track athlete.

Cuban trainer Ismael Salas doesn’t see Ugas as an ordinary boxer going up against perhaps the greatest of this generation.

“He’s a very cool guy but he’s been working so hard. He’s ready. He’s not one guy coming from just one fight and coming from nowhere. He has a very good amateur background of 500 fights,” said Salas.

“Yordenis Ugas is a very competitive guy and always very eager to fight. To fight Manny Pacquiao is an honor. To me, he’s a legend. So much respect,” said the trainer of Cuban champions.

Ugas said he respects Pacquiao as much.

“I have a lot of respect for him. That’s why I’m very excited. But all the respect is finished when we get on the ring tomorrow,” he said.