Spence out of Pacquiao fight with eye injury, Ugas to step in

© Manny Pacquiao IG Manny Pacquiao vs. Errol Spence Jr. fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, Aug. 21, 2021

LOS ANGELES – Manny Pacquiao’s anticipated showdown with Errol Spence is off after the unbeaten American suffered a torn retina in his left eye, organizers said Tuesday.

World Boxing Association welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas will replace Spence and defend his title against the 42-year-old Filipino southpaw, an eight-division world champion, on August 21 in Las Vegas.

Ugas had been scheduled to defend his title on the undercard.

“I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao on August 21,” Spence, the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council champion, said in a statement.

“I was excited about the fight and the event. Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery on it ASAP and that there was no way I could fight with my eye in that condition.”

Spence discovered he had a torn retina during a pre-fight medical examination by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in Las Vegas on Monday, organizers said. He has returned to his home in Texas for treatment. — Agence France-Presse

This article Spence out of Pacquiao fight with eye injury, Ugas to step in was originally published in GMA News Online.