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Mike CoppingerESPN
LAS VEGAS — This night was supposed to be a celebration, a culmination of all the great Manny Pacquiao has accomplished — a champion in eight divisions in four decades, a superstar the world over.
Yordenis Ugas wasn’t here for the Pacquiao party, though; Ugas was here for his own arrival. And he made good on his promise to bring all his respect for Pacquiao into the ring.
Ugas, who accepted the assignment on 11 days’ notice, scored a unanimous decision over Pacquiao on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena to retain his WBA “super” welterweight title, spoiling the festivities in an upset victory that establishes Ugas as a major player in boxing’s best division.
All three judges scored it for Ugas: 116-112, 115-113 and 116-112. ESPN had it 116-112 for Ugas.
Round-by-round analysis
Yordenis Ugas defeats Manny Pacquaio via unanimous decision to retain his welterweight title, and perhaps ends the legend’s career. 116-112, 115-113 and 116-112 for Ugas. Well-earned victory! And judges got it right.
Round 12: Ugas cuts Manny over the left eye and finishes strong. Pacquiao pushed hard like he always does but he’s just a step or too slow at 42. 10-9, Ugas. 116-112, Ugas.
Round 11: Ugas in command once again. Pacquaio seems tired but is still coming forward. He needs a KO to win. 10-9, Ugas. 106-103, Ugas.
Round 10: Great response from Manny in the closing seconds. Ugas lands a big right and Manny replies with a shot that snaps Ugas’ head back. Pacquiao appeared to stun Ugas early in the round. He’s closing strong. 10-9, Pacquiao. 96-94, Ugas.
Round 9: Another really slow round. Pacquaio trying to attack but not landing much of consequence still. Can definitely see judges favoring Manny based on activity alone, but in most rounds, Ugas far effective. But Manny wins this one. 10-9, Pacquaio. 87-84, Ugas.
Round 8: Manny with a much better round, landed a few good shots but Ugas keeps punctuating sequences with hard rights, both upstairs and to the body. 10-9, Pacquaio. 78-74, Ugas.
Round 7: Ugas has slowed this fight down to his pace. Just peppering Pacquaio with body shots and jabs. Manny needs to go for broke sooner than later. Or this is it for the living legend? 10-9, Ugas. 69-64, Ugas
Round 6: Slowest round of the fight. Pacquaio not connecting much. Ugas landed a couple of big rights to the body again. 10-9, Ugas. 59-55, Ugas
Round 5: Ugas continues to pepper Pacquaio with hard counter shots, particularly the left and a right to the body. Manny needs an adjustment. 10-9, Ugas. 49-46, Ugas
Round 4: Ugas wins another round. Very composed in the face of Pacquiao’s flat-footed attack. Continues to set up that beautiful right hand to the body with double jabs. Pacman needs to land something big. 10-9, Ugas. 39-37, Ugas
Round 3: Ugas with a big counter combination to close the round and win the frame. That high guard is picking off a lot of Pacquiao’s shots. Usually Pacman delivers his attack from angles. Tonight he’s pressuring in straight lines and Ugas appears to see every punch. Good action fight! 10-9, Ugas. 29-28, Ugas.
Round 2: Ugas clearly takes the frame. Stopped Pacquiao in his tracks with a straight right hand upstairs and landed a bunch of effective rights to the body. Nice sequence there with a double jab to the head followed by the right to the body. Pacquiao touched up a lot. 10-9, Ugas. 19-19.
Results:
Guerrero outpoints Ortiz in battle of former champions
In a forgettable battle of former welterweight champions years past their best days, Robert Guerrero topped Victor Ortiz via unanimous decision in the co-feature of Pacquiao-Ugas.
All three judges turned in the same score: 96-94.
Guerrero (37-6-1, 20 KOs) and Ortiz started out strong with an action-packed first round, but as the fight wore on, both boxers seemed to tire. Over the last half of the 10-round fight, the American boxers were mostly hugging each other, throwing arm punches on the inside. Still, it was Guerrero, 38, who was more effective, winning over the judges in a closely contested fight.
Ortiz (32-7-3, 25 KOs), 34, has won just three of his past nine fights.
Magsayo stops Ceja in Round 10
Mark Magsayo scored a brutal knockout of Julio Ceja in a WBC featherweight title eliminator, warming up the Filipino faithful on hand to watch their hero Manny Pacquiao.
The 26-year-old Filipino boxer landed a right hand that rendered Ceja senseless on his feet before a second right hand left the Mexican fighter unconscious on the ring mat.
Magsayo, who is promoted by Pacquiao, will now be guaranteed a 126-pound title shot. He might be ready too. Ceja, a former 122-pound champion, was a massive step up in class for Magsayo.
Ceja also was dropped in Round 1, the result of a left hook that caught him cold in the opening seconds. He rallied as the fight waged on and scored a knockdown of his own in Round 5, a left hook flooring Magsayo after a series of right hands to the body slowed him down.
Now, Magsayo has finally tasted adversity in the ring, and he proved he could handle it. Next, he’ll have to prove he can take care of better fighters.
Castro demolishes Escandon for KO victory
Carlos Castro scored the biggest win of his budding career on Saturday night, notching a 10th-round KO of durable fringe contender Oscar Escandon.
The 27-year-old Mexican boxer dropped Escandon in Round 10 of the brutal featherweight bout — the second knockdown of the match — and this time, the Colombian fighter was in no shape to continue.
Escandon, 37, had weathered the storm several times earlier in the pay-per-view opener. In fact, he started strong by hurting Castro at the end of the first round, buckling the 11-1 favorite with a left hook.
However, Castro (27-0, 12 KOs) used his range and height to punch down on the smaller man, and in Round 6, he pummeled Escandon before the bell. Escandon walked back to his corner on unsteady legs, and in Round 7, he was dropped for the first time in the contest. Rather than clinch, Escandon (26-6, 18 KOs) slugged his way back into the fight, pushing Castro back with a flurry before the bell.
Escandon has now lost four of five contests, all against quality opposition and all inside the distance. The other defeats came to Gary Russell Jr., Brandon Figueroa and Tugstsogt Nyambayar.
Castro now appears well on his way to a title shot at 126 pounds in the not-too-distant future.
Contreras upsets Dato
Angel Antonio Contreras scored a unanimous decision win over John Dato in an eight-round featherweight fight, handing the latter his first pro defeat. The cards read 78-73, 77-74 and 77-74 for Contreras, who improved to 11-4-2 with 6 KOs.
The 27-year-old Mexican fighter beat Dato to the punch in a bout that was mostly contested on the inside. The victory is Contreras’ first in his past four fights.
Dato, a 28-year-old Filipino fighter, is now 14-1-1.
Spencer outclasses Villalobos for decision win
Mickel Spencer, the brother of undefeated prospect Joey Spencer, was successful in his pro debut. The 17-year-old from Union City, California, scored a shutout unanimous decision over Eliseo Villalobos in a four-round lightweight fight. All three judges scored it the same: 40-36.
Mickel Spencer was in control from the opening bell and cruised.
Villalobos (1-2, 0 KOs), a 21-year-old from Simi Valley, California, has lost two straight after winning his pro debut.