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WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. suffered a retinal tear in his left eye and has been forced to pull out of his anticipated title defense against Manny Pacquiao on August 21 in Las Vegas. WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas will now take his place and defend his belt.
The fight will air on Fox pay-per-view at 9 p.m. ET
ANNOUNCEMENT: Errol Spence Jr forced to withdraw from fight with Manny Pacquiao due to a retinal tear in his left eye
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) August 10, 2021
Yordenis Ugas will step up to replace Spence and will defend his WBA title against Pacquiao on August 21 pic.twitter.com/mcOtpsgVdh
I pray for a full and complete recovery for @ErrolSpenceJr.
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) August 10, 2021
Spence was slated put both of his belts and his undefeated 27-0 record on the line when going toe-to-toe with the veteran Pacquiao in August. The 29-year-old southpaw won the IBF title on May 27, 2017 via 11th round TKO against former champion Kell Brook and proceeded to defeat Shawn Porter on September 28, 2019 for his WBC title to unify the belts.
The decision to slide Ugas in his place presents an interesting matchup as Pacquiao will now have the opportunity to regain the WBA welterweight championship, a title he never lost. Ugas, who defeated Abel Ramos for the regular welterweight championship last September, was elevated to status of super welterweight champion after Pacquiao was stripped of the title due to inactivity.