It appears that WBA Welterweight Champion Yordenis Ugas will get the fight he wanted against WBC and IBF Champion Errol Spence Jr.
ESPN was the first to report that Ugas and Spence are finalizing a deal to fight one another in 2022. WBA President Gilberto Mendoza confirmed the news, while also stating that Eimantas Stanionis, the proposed mandatory opponent for Ugas, agreed to step aside in order for this fight to take place.
It was also confirmed that Stanionis will now face Radzhab Butaev. The winner of that bout would fight the WBA champion, regardless of who it may be.
“Stanionis has agreed to withdraw from the mandatory title fight,” Mendoza told Boxing Scene. “He will now fight Butaev. Errol Spence and Yordenis Ugas, Merry Christmas to you both and let’s have a great fight.”
A bronze medalist in the 2008 Olympic games, Ugas made his pro debut in 2010. He went 4-3 from late 2012 until 2014. Beating Jamal James in 2016 would start an eight-fight win streak for Ugas. Competing for gold for the first time in 2019, Ugas lost to Shawn Porter for the WBC Welterweight Title.
Ugas rebounded in a big way following that loss, winning three in a row, including the WBA Welterweight Title against Abel Ramos in 2020. He successfully defended the belt against Manny Pacquiao in August.
A 2009 Golden Gloves champion, Spence made his pro debut in 2012. He won the IBF Welterweight Title against Kell Brook in 2017. He retained it three times before facing Shawn Porter in September 2019. In a classic, Spence beat Porter to retain his title and win the WBC Welterweight Title.
Following that fight, Spence was involved in a scary car crash that almost derailed his career. Surviving and now fully recovered, Spence returned in December 2020 and successfully defended both belts against Danny Garcia. He was supposed to fight Pacquiao instead of Ugas but had to back out after suffering a retinal tear in his left eye.
Both fighters compete under the Premier Boxing Champions banner.
Fightful has all of your MMA needs covered. Follow us on Twitter for updates, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for ‘Fightful Fight Night’ watch alongs for all major MMA and Boxing events!
