[Boxing- UK] 16.4/ 23:00 E.Spence- Y.Ugas
Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) will snap a 17-month layoff following surgery on a detached retina when he defends his WBC and IBF titles at 147 pounds against Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs), the WBA titleholder, in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions event set to air on Showtime PPV (9 p.m. ET). The fight will not only provide further clarity on the road toward a possible undisputed championship fight for the winner against unbeaten WBO champion Terence Crawford, it's expected to crown a new power broker within the division.
The fact that the 35-year-old Ugas is in this position at all remains one of boxing's best human interest stories. The former Cuban amateur star has endured everything from a dangerous defection of his home country to back-to-back losses in 2014 that appeared, at the time, to label him as a failed prospect.
All Ugas has done since then is win, with the exception of a split-decision 2019 title loss to Shawn Porter, which most failed to even recognize as a defeat. Not only do some observers believe Ugas should've been given the nod on the scorecards, he was outright robbed of a 12th-round knockdown by referee Jack Reiss that would've altered the result.
In this case, Spence's jab will be key, as will his ability to make Ugas pay for setting up shop so close to him on the inside. That could come through digging left hooks to the body from Spence or from making a decision that Ugas' firepower isn't enough to stop him from coming forward in key spots.
The sobering reality for Ugas is he might be able to execute his game plan to perfection on Saturday and still find himself lacking that extra gear needed to best a historically relevant talent like Spence.
Spence by decision @1,70 Bet365
[Boxing- UK] 16.4/ 23:00 E.Spence- Y.Ugas
Spence by decision @1,70
