Errol Spence Jr withdraws from Manny Pacquiao fight with a torn retina | Boxing

Welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr was forced to withdraw from his Aug. 21 fight with Manny Pacquiao due to a retinal tear in his left eye, organizers said on Tuesday.

Cuban Yordenis Ugas, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, agreed to replace Spence in the main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and defend his welterweight belt in the World Boxing Association versus Pacquiao, who won titles in eight divisions. .

Spence, the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight champion who has a 27-0 record, learned he had a tear in his retina during a previous medical exam -combat by the Nevada Athletic Commission in Las Vegas on Monday.

“I was excited about the fight and the event,” Spence said in a press release. “Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to have the surgery ASAP and there was no way I could fight my eye in this condition.”

Spence, who returned home to Dallas and will undergo surgery to repair the tear on Wednesday, is expected to make a full recovery and return to the ring.

“I ask everyone to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery of Errol Spence Jr,” Pacquiao said. “Thank goodness his physical exam found his eye problem before he sustained any further damage.”

In Pacquiao’s most recent fight, in July 2019, the Filipino southpaw defeated Keith Thurman in a split decision to win his since-vacant WBA super welterweight title belt.

Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) has established himself as an elite welterweight since returning from a layoff in 2016 and was elevated to world champion in January after winning a championship belt WBA by defeating Abel Ramos last September.

The 35-year-old Cuban said it was an honor to have the chance to fight Pacquiao and that he was up for the challenge despite the short notice.

“I have a lot of respect for Pacquiao, but I’m coming to win this fight,” Ugas said.

“I have worked hard at camp with my coach Ismael Salas and I know that together we will come up with a masterful game plan to fight whatever Manny brings into the ring.”