WBA Greenlits Errol Spence vs Yordenis Ugas Title Unification Bout
WBA has approved their Super Welterweight Champion Yordenis Ugas to move ahead with a title unification bout against IBF and WBC titleholder Errol Spence Jr.
Ugas(27-4) was earlier ordered by WBA to make a mandatory defense against Eimantas Stanionis and the bout was in discussion for the last few weeks. In the latest development, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza tweeted that WBA has agreed to the title unification bout, which is now projected for February or March 2022.
Errol Spence Jr.(27-0) last faced Danny García to defend his titles back in December 2020 to maintain his unbeaten record. He was supposed to defend his belts against Manny Pacquiao in August this year, but pulled out of the bout due to an issue with his eyes and underwent surgery.
Yordenis Ugas replaced him to defend WBA(super) title against Pacquiao and went on to get the biggest win of his career via unanimous decision win. That turned out to be Pacquiao’s retirement bout. “54 Milagros” earlier won the title against Abel Ramos in September 2020.
WBA earlier planned a four-man mini-tournament where Ugas, dubbed as WBA Super Welterweight Champion, would have defended the title against Eimantas Stanionis. WBA ‘regular’ 147-lb champion Jamal James faced Radzhab Butaev as part of the plan where Butaev won the titles.
WBA’s plan put the Ugas vs Spence bout in peril and it was speculated that Spence would move towards a bout with WBO titleholder Terence Crawford. However, Eimantas Stanionis agreed to step aside so that Spence vs Ugas unification bout could take place. Stanionis will now face Butaev for the regular title.
It will now be interesting to see if Crawford waits for the unified winner from this bout, or would towards any other bout. Keep tuned in for more updates.
