Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao seems to be ready for a showdown with substitute Udenis Ugas, although the level of expectations has dropped unsurprisingly.
Considering that the original plan was to see two top boxers in the welterweight, the range has changed a lot.
Perhaps no one is more disappointed than Hall of Fame coach Freddy Roach.
“I might be more disappointed than him, I think, because this is one of the biggest battles there,” Roach told BoxingScene.com“You have two of the best fighters in the world fighting with each other. Now they have given us an opponent that many people don’t know, etc.”
The change in opponents forced Roach and his team to change their preparations for Pacquiao’s next game. Originally, this was a left-handed battle.
At the same time, Ugas showed an orthodox stance, forcing Pac-Man to quarrel with his right-hand training partner at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California.
Roach tried to familiarize himself with Urgas. This includes examining past battles, including the controversial conflict with Sean Porter in March 2019. The Cubans decided to lose the battle due to a split.
Although Ugas is almost unfamiliar to most people, Roach warns that Cubans know how to fight.
Roach also pointed out that some fans believe that the Cuban should win the game against Porter in 2019.
“He is a great boxer, he often hits home runs. I saw him hit a home run on one of the tapes, and then he fell. He really worked hard for it. He is a big boxer, Coming from a Cuban background, he knows how to fight. That’s for sure. This may not be a big name, but he is a very good opponent,” Roach said.
Photo: Getty Images | Steve Marcus
However, Roach assured that despite changes in his opponents, the 42-year-old student is still full of motivation.
From a loser, Pacquiao is now a Heavy taste In Ugas. He is a huge-350 favorite who won a bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics.
In terms of results, most people expect Pacquiao to beat Urgas.
Considering that the boxing legend is about to end a long offseason, critics believe that it may take time for him to return to fighting.
