Manny Pacquiao towers over a fallen Keith Thurman whom he knocked down in the first round of their welterweight title fight on July 20, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AP Photo/John Locher)
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuano boxing experts unanimously picked boxing’s only eight-division world champion, Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao to win his World Boxing Association (WBA) world welterweight title showdown against Yordenis Ugas of Cuba.
The mega-fight is set for tomorrow, August 21 (August 22 Manila Time) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
CDN Digital asked opinions on the possible outcome of the fight from Cebu’s experts of the Sweet Science.
Based on their experience in boxing, they weigh in the pros and cons of fighting a last-minute (Ugas) replacement. They also gave their two cents on the possibility that the Fighting Senator will announce his presidential bid after the fight.
Edito and Edmund Villamor
The well-known Villamor brothers, Edito and Edmund, both predicted that Pacquiao will wrest the WBA world welterweight title from Ugas although they differed slightly on the final outcome depending on how Ugas will engage the Pacman tomorrow.
“Yes may posibilidad nga ma KO si Ugas ni Pacman. Kung mo defensive pag ayo si Ugas Pacquaio will win by decision,” said Edito Villamor, the former head trainer and matchmaker of the disbanded ALA Boxing Gym who now runs a boxing gym co-owned by his brother Edmund.
“Delikado sad ang late replacement kung dili dayon ka adjust sa game plan ilabi na nga southpaw ang game plan then nikalit lang ug orthodox ang kontra kay ang gi sige ug pa sparring for the whole duration sa ilang training kay walhon man kuyaw sad. Pero base sad sa experience ni Pacquiao dali ra sad na para niya pag adjust.”
With regards to Pacquiao announcing his bid for the presidency, Villamor said that he has no idea if the senator will announce it after the fight.
“Regarding sa pagfile sa COC wala nako idea ana kay iyaha nana ang decision to run for president,” added Villamor.
For Edmund Villamor, Pacquiao’s chances of winning the fight depend if Ugas will stick to his style of being a one-dimensional boxer.
“Kung ang iyang ipakita mao gihapon sa duwa nya ni Porter, kuyaw siya ma TKO barug ra kaayo siya,” said Edmund.
“Depende pana kung maminaw siya sa istorya sa mga tawo kung iya gyud ambisyon nya gamiton iyang pagkadaug sa boxing popularity siya ana gyud mo file gyud siya ug pag ka kandidato sa president.”
Julius Erving Junco
For Omega Boxing Gym’s chief trainer, Julius Erving Junco, he predicts that the fight will go the distance with Pacquiao winning it.
“My prediction is it will go the distance and Pacman will outpoint Ugas. Knockout? Dili siguro. Ugas is the younger boxer. He can’t take Ugas for granted he is well prepared. Dili kaayo factor late replacement because Pacman is more comfortable fighting orthodox than southpaw and last fight niya against southpaw 2008 pa against David Diaz,”said Junco.
When it comes to Pacquiao’s presidential bid, Junco said he will support Pacquiao if he decides to run for the country’s highest office.
“Yes big chance he’s the Man Of Destiny. Lets go MP for President!Sympre! ari ko sa tao na dako kasing-kasing,” added Junco.
Christopher “Ping-ping” Tepora
Big Yellow Boxing Gym’s head trainer Christopher “Ping-ping” Tepora also believes that Pacquiao will win but warned the Filipino boxing icon against being complacent.
“Para nako daog si Manny ani. Dungan sila ug schedule ani sa lahi-lahi nga kontra, pero di mokumpyansa. Di na makumpyansaan, isog sad ug naay kusog si Ugas. Para nako daog si Manny ani ug decision,” said Tepora.
“Delikado na ang last minute replacement kay ang ilahang gi training gud kay pang walhon nga kontra, unya si Ugas kay tuohon. So mag adjust na pud na sila.”
Tepora also revealed that he heard rumors that Pacquiao’s closest friend, Buboy Fernandez said that it will be Pacquiao’s last fight in the United States. The fighting senator will fight in the Philippines in 2022, so there’s a chance that Pacquiao will run for president.
“Matod pa ni Buboy, last fight na ni Pacquiao sa US, kung modaog siya karon, ig 2022 diri na sa Pilipinas na duwaon. Murag nag pasumbingay na daan. Kung modagan siya sa election, paminaw nako 50-50 na kay si Sara Duterte lig-on pud,” said Tepora.
Edward Ligas and Salven Lagumbay
International boxing judges Edward Ligas and Salven Lagumbay have differing predictions about how the fight will end although they both predicted a Pacman win.
For Ligas, Pacquiao cannot knockout Ugas because of size disparity. Instead, Pacquiao will win by decision.
“I guess Pacman can’t KO Ugas coz of size disparity. But I believe Pacman will win by decision. But if he will slow down from eight rounds to 12 rounds, Ugas will win by decision. Ugas is hungrier and wants to shine in an opportunity of a lifetime in his career. Although, a 10 day replacement but Ugas also trained hard on this fight coz his originally schedule as co-main event,” said Ligas.
“If he will win against Ugas, I believe he will announce it in front of the international media with regards to his plans to run for president. Kung mapildi murag sa October na mahibaw-an,” added Ligas.
Meanwhile, Lagumbay strongly believes that Pacquiao will win by knockout before or on the 10th round.
“Pacquiao by stoppage on or before 10th. Late replacements are dangerous, but Ugas won’t be a problem to Manny. No idea about him filing his candidacy. I hope he won’t. But if he ever does, I will support him.” /rcg