Manny Pacquiao could win the WBA welterweight title again when he faces Yordenis Ugas in a fight at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Saturday (21/8).
Pacquiao is 42 years old, but the age factor does not mean that the man, who has 71 times entered the ring, will easily lose to Ugas who is seven years his junior.
The boxer who also works as a politician in the Philippines has the power to make Ugas swallow disappointment.
In addition, Ugas, who just won the WBA Super belt earlier this year, is also not a boxer without weaknesses.
Pacquiao will not be reckless into the ring without preparation. Considering already at the end of his career, the former ruler of bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and flyweight certainly wants a sweet ending in the ring.
Here are five factors that made Pacquiao win over Ugas:
1. Pacquiao’s slick technique
Not many boxers have had an impressive long career like Pacquiao in the ring. Since stepping into the professional ring in 1995, Pacquiao has won many times.
Pacquiao’s slick technique is one of the provisions that makes this Filipino senator often come out victorious in a prestigious match.
Pacquiao often appears with intelligence abilities in the ring by utilizing space, speed, and strength.
The combination of punches and speed is one of Pacquiao’s characteristics that can trouble Ugas.
2. Pacquiao’s Punch Power
Against Ugas can also be a measure of the power of Pacquiao’s punch at the age of four. Two years ago when he faced Keith Thurman, Pacquiao had a chance to knock his opponent down before sealing a point victory at the end of the match.
If Pacquiao still has an equally strong punch, then Ugas is in danger. Even if the match goes up to 12 rounds, Pacquiao still has a chance to win because he has a punch that captivates the judges.
3. Ugas KO Record
Pacquiao’s coach, Freddy Roach, once stated that Ugas has the potential to beat his team because he is always chasing a knockout win.
However, according to match records, Ugas collected 12 KO wins from 26 fights. According to some observers, the power of Ugas’ punches was not as strong as the opponents Pacquiao had faced before.
With a not so impressive record, Pacquiao was able to dominate Ugas.
4. Ugas Doesn’t Have Much Experience in Big Matches
Ugas, who was the world champion in 2005 and won bronze at the 2008 Olympics, has never faced big-name boxers.
Despite having entered the professional boxing scene in 2010, Ugas was only able to get the opportunity to appear in a duel for the championship belt in 2019 when he lost to Shawn Porter.
5. Monotonous When Fighting
Ugas fighting style is called different from Cuban boxers in general. Instead of being agile and wiry, Ugas is more likely to be rigid.
Although it has been polished by the coach Ismael and proven with 11 wins and one loss since 2016, Ugas’ style is risky when facing Pacquiao.
When faced with a boxer who has a style like Ugas, Pacquiao is quite dominant and continues to put pressure on the opponent.
