Yordenis Ugas welcomes Canelo-Charlo platform

It has been almost 18 months since Yordenis Ugas suffered a fractured right orbital in a brutal loss against Errol Spence Jr. Ugas showed his toughness and determination while losing his WBA championship belt against Spence in April 2022. Now the veteran Cuban boxer wants to be a champion again.

Despite suffering the fracture in the seventh round that night, he kept fighting valiantly. He never quit despite a severely swollen right eye. The ringside doctor finally got the referee to stop the fight in the 10th round, ending the damage. 

Ugas promised to return to the ring, and he’ll be back on Sept. 30 in Las Vegas. He’ll fight Mario “El Azteca” Barrios for the interim WBC Welterweight title in the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s fight against Jermell Charlo fight.

Yordenis Ugas not worried about eye

“It was both physically and emotionally tough after the Errol Spence Jr. fight,” Ugas said. “Emotionally I had to carry that loss with me. Now I can redeem myself and put it all in the past. I always knew that I would come back after the fight. My eye got stronger after the surgery, and now I feel ready.

“I was so happy to be able to be back in the gym and do what I’ve wanted to do my entire life. I was back in training in December and started sparring again a couple months after that.”

MORE FROM OUR ESQUINA

Canelo Alvarez vows to prove he’s still an elite champ

Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas Stuns Manny Pacquiao, Delivers Message

2021, the Year of the Cuban in Sports

Ugas, 37, is nearing the end of his career. A bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, he hopes to earn a championship belt one more time.

Barrios, 28, is also a former world champion hoping to regain a title. He has trained under 2022 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year Bob Santos for this fight.

Mario Barrios eager to return atop welterweight division

“A win in this fight means everything for me and my career right now,” Barrios said. “It puts me at the top of the division with the best welterweights out there and gets me closer to the bigger world title fights.

“I’m very happy to be here in Las Vegas with Bob Santos. Me and Bob have always had a great relationship, and having him as the head coach again is great. We’re gonna be able to accomplish a lot in the next few years.”

Ugas and Barrios met at DLX Boxing in Las Vegas for a pre-fight press conference on Tuesday. They appreciate the opportunity to fight on the Canelo-Charlo card on SHOWTIME PPV. 

Ugas (27-5, 12 KOs) is actually 5-0 in Las Vegas. He beat Manny Pacquiao in Vegas in 2021 in the fight before he lost to Spence. 

“I’m used to these big fight atmospheres,” Ugas said. “But it is very exciting to be on the card with a star as big as Canelo. It’s a great source of pride, and I plan to bring my best for all the fans watching.”