We may have seen the end of the line for Manny Pacquiao tonight, as the legendary fighter was beaten fairly by WBA welterweight titlist Yordenis Ugas.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KO) did not say he would retire, and he was still competitive enough to go the 12-round distance, but he also had no real argument for winning, and Manny doesn’t strike anyone as the type of guy who just wants to hang around, and if he can’t beat Ugas (27-4, 12 KO) anymore, it’s hard to imagine him beating Errol Spence Jr or Terence Crawford, either.
If this was it for Manny, he goes out with a dignified effort against a very good fighter, and Manny still looked like a top 10 sort of welterweight out there, but there are certain guys for whom that will not be enough. If Manny Pacquiao can’t convince himself he’s still best in class — and it’d be hard after tonight — would he want to fight on?
Pros who tuned in sent out their thoughts on Manny and, not to lose track of who won, a very strong performance from Yordenis Ugas, who just put himself in line for more huge fights:
Ugas fought a great fights. Props to manny for taking on a tough challenge still a legend.
— Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia (@DannySwift) August 22, 2021
They will never be ANOTHER Manny Pacquiao
— Rougarou (@RPrograis) August 22, 2021
The judges did the right thing !!! Happy for Ugas. Humble beginnings. Family man. Great fighter ! Now pay that man !!!!
— Andre S.O.G. Ward (@andreward) August 22, 2021
Manny Pacquiao has nothing to prove. I won’t say, “he dared to be great”, because he was already great before the opening bell of this fight.#PacquiaoUgas @premierboxing
— Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) August 22, 2021
Ugas landed the more significant punches ! Unanimous decision 115-113, 116-112 all 3 @YordenisUgas AND STILL!!!!!!!! This is the moment he been waiting for! Congrats!!!!
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) August 22, 2021
If thats it for him, as it probably should be, we didn’t deserve Manny Pacquiao… #boxing
— caleb truax (@GoldenCalebT) August 22, 2021
Pacquiao is the epitome of class and grit.
— Franchón Crews-Dezurn (@TheHHDiva) August 22, 2021