Following the latest news that Errol Spence won’t be able to participate in his scheduled Aug. 21 title defense against Manny Pacquiao after suffering an eye injury, Pacquiao and replacement opponent Yordenis Ugas held a virtual press conference to formally announce that they’ll be fighting one another instead. During this presser Pacquiao and Ugas react to the late change in plans and express how they’re still looking forward to this fight. Check out a couple excerpts below.
Pacquiao on his reaction to Spence’s withdrawing from the fight
“Well first of all I would like to say that I pray for the fast recovery of Errol Spence. Health is priority, the most important thing. I did my best in training in preparation for this fight, worked hard in the gym, so I’m so thankful that my hard work in training is not wasted. There’s Ugas who we’re willing to fight on August 21 so good thing I can show my hard work, what I did in training.
“I’m not disappointed at all because my hard work in training is not wasted because Yordenis Ugas is there, waiting to fight and challenge for the WBA championship”
Ugas on how he found out he had the opportunity to step in to face Pacquiao
“I’m used to taking fights at the last minute, nothing that’s too out of the blue for me. What happened was on Monday night I was training at the gym and then I find out that both Spence and Maidana are hurt. So once I heard I was gonna be fighting Pacquiao I was game for it, I was super excited, and then I just continued on like I would for any other fight because I’m more than ready to fight anybody.”