Christopher B.

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Latest political issues in the Philippines.

The recent fight of the Philippines Boxing Legend , Senator Manny Pacquiao .
Reference : Boxing pundits, fans see Ugas as threat even to Pacquiao
politics (rappler.com)

Boxing pundits, fans see Ugas as threat even to Pacquiao politics

AUG 22, 2021 9:12 AM PHT
LYNDE SALGADOS

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, PHILIPPINES

‘His victory would mean a chance for his political ascension. Pinoys love
winners’
Cuban Yordenis Ugas has the potential of altering Manny Pacquiao's future in politics
as they face each other in a Las Vegas ring on Sunday, August 22.
There should be no room for complacency on the Filipino boxing icon's part because
the younger Ugas is hungry, and motivation makes him a dangerous opponent, local
boxing analysts and aficionados agree.
They also said one false move by Pacquiao or even a lucky streak in Ugas' favor could
send the aging senator to retirement from boxing and even change the course of his
political career.

"Kay kon mapildi, hoyhoy gyud iyang abaga. Pildi pud iyang politika (If he
loses, he would be in low morale, and he can kiss his politics goodbye)," said Roberto
Caballero of the Green CdeO Eagles Club (GCEC).
He said it would be difficult to separate Pacquiao the boxer from Pacquiao the
politician given that it was his celebrity and status in the boxing world that brought
him to the Senate in the first place.
 Another boxing aficionado who followed Pacquiao's career, banker Charome
Marte, said that if Ugas pulls off an upset, then Pacquiao may opt to kiss and make
up with President Rodrigo Duterte to save his political career.
Although vocal "die-hard" supporters of Duterte, Caballero and Marte said they were
still banking on Pacquiao to outpunch the Cuban.
"Idol gyud namo siya in boxing (He's our boxing idol). His victory would mean a
chance for his political ascension. Pinoys love winners," Caballero said.
But not everyone knows that Pacquiao would be facing a formidable foe in Ugas, a
former world amateur boxing champion before he turned pro.
For one, the WBA super welterweight titlist Ugas has never been knocked out in his
entire professional boxing career.

At 42, Pacquiao (62-7- 2 laced with 39 KOs) is already at the twilight of his
boxing career, trying to beat Father Time.
In contrast, the taller and younger Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs), at 35, is still at the peak of his
physical strength, and has been given the rare chance to exchange blows with
Pacquiao as WBC and IBF belt holder Errol Spence Jr.'s replacement.
Cagayan de Oro City sports director Jaymar Rivera sees Ugas as a good counter-
puncher like retired Filipino boxer Rustico Torrecampo and Mexican legend Juan
Manuel Marquez who both knocked out the senator earlier in his boxing career.
Although not as powerful, Rivera said, Ugas packs wallops on both hands for
great counter uppercuts to the body, and can pull off a surprise through good timing
and a lucky punch.
"But he's not the El Tornado of Tijuana. I think Manny can handle him well in
12 rounds. But he cannot be overconfident and take chances," said Rivera.
He said the towering and granite chin of Mexican-American Antonio Margarito made
that mistake. Margarito reigned in multiple world welterweight divisions prior to his
stunning setback in 2010 in the hands of Pacquiao.
Even Mindanaoans who frown on Pacquiao politics bet on him as he faces
Ugas
Unlike Pacquiao who challenged and succeeded in taking the IBF super
bantamweight crown from Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001 as a last-minute
replacement, the Olympic bronze medalist Ugas replaced Spence Jr. but as an elite
welterweight ruler.
In his amateur days, Ugas defeated at least seven rivals who in the future would
become world champions, including the feared American Terrence Crawford, the
world's No. 2 pound-for-pound.
Entering the ring on Sunday after almost a two-year layoff, Pacquiao has had a heavy
excess and the distraction of politics to carry on his back, while Ugas is grimly
focused and will take the challenge not for the money but for boxing legacy and his
country.
Cagayan de Oro native James Abucejo, now based in Houston, said the
betting odds in the Filipino community in the US was heavy - $375 to $100 - in favor
of Pacquiao.
"But Manny should not lose," said Abucejo, adding that some of Pacquiao's
friends in basketball like former PBA stars Kenneth Duremdes, Paul Alvarez, and Zaldy
Realubit have already been drum beating there for the senator's likely presidential
bid.
 "What's at stake here is not only in boxing," Abucejo told Rappler. "A win over
Ugas will also be a big push for his politics in the Philippines. We're one with Manny
in this fight." – Rappler.com