The American boxer Errol Spence apologized and said he was disappointed to not fight against Manny Pacquiao this month due to an eye injury.
Spence shared the news in his Instagram post this Wednesday (Philippine time).
“I am very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao on August 21st. Unfortunately, the doctors found a small tear in my eye and said I need to get surgery ASAP,” said Spence.
“There is no way I can fight with my eye in that condition I would like to apologize to everyone and thank you all for the support, You know I’ll be back soon, I’ve came back from worse.”
As a result, Spence will be replaced by World Boxing Association welterweight champ Yordenis Ugas to defend his title against the 42-year-old “fighting senator” on the same date.
It will be recalled that Ugas defeated Abel Ramos last September and was named WBA welterweight champ after he was withdrawn from Pacquiao due to “inactivity.”
Spence is the champion in both the International Boxing Federation division since 2017 and World Boxing Council since 2019.
Manny Pacquiao to fight Olympic medalist Yordenis Ugas
“I came back from worse. Went to three different doctors all said the same thing I’ll be back for the winner for sure. I was taught to get through it and keep going,” said Spence.
Pacquiao is now praying for the immediate recovery of the original encounter, according to a statement. “Thank God his physical examination discovered his eye condition before he suffered any further damage,” said the Pinoy boxer.
“I have agreed to fight Yordenis Ugas on August 21 for the WBA welterweight super championship. The proper way and the only way to win a world title is inside the ring.”
Yordenis Ugas Hernández is a Cuban professional boxer who has held the WBA (Super) welterweight title since January 2021, having previously held the WBA (Regular) title from 2020 until being elevated to Super champion.
He was also challenged for the WBC welterweight title in 2019. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships and bronze at the 2008 Olympics, both in the lightweight division.
As of November 2020, he is ranked as the world’s fifth-best active welterweight by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and seventh by The Ring magazine and BoxRec.
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