LAS VEGAS, Nevada—Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao finally met his substitute opponent, Yordenis Ugás, in the flesh on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) at the formal Grand Arrival ceremony outside the T-Mobile Arena fronting the Toshiba Plaza in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And the first words the fighting senator said of his Cuban foe?

"Oh, it's okay, it's nice to see him," Pacquiao told the crowd when asked about his impression of the 35-year-old Ugás "It's going to be a good fight, more action in the ring."

"I would like to invite the fans all over the world, especially Filipinos, to watch the fight," said Pacquiao, who was obviously shorter—three inches—to the 5-foot-9 Cuban. "See you there."

Wearing a red tracksuit, the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight titleholder Ugás (26-4 win-loss record with 12 knockouts) showed class and respect to the 42-year-old eight-division world champion, who responded in the same manner in their first face-to-face meeting.

Ugás, a replacement for unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., said the late adjustments in training have leveled the playing field.

Interestingly, Ugás's supposed foe, Fabian Maidana of Argentina, in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Spence "Legacy Fight" card, suffered the same torn left eye retina like Spence.

"I don't think anybody has the advantage because he was preparing for a southpaw, [then] I was preparing for a conventional fighter," Ugás said. "And we just had 10 days to prepare, so I do not think anyone has the advantage."

"If this is Pacquiao's last time in the ring, he will fight someone who is of high caliber like me," said the 2008 Olympics bronze medalist Ugás. "We're going to put on a great fight for the fans around the world."

But Pacquiao (62-7-2 record with 39 knockouts) reminded Ugás about the "hard truth why he's the present champion" after the WBA took his crown last January for "ring inactivity."

On Sunday, he's coming to get the title back.

"It means a lot. I just need to prove that it's not good to take my belt without fighting me. So, I think it's kind of a challenge and a good fight," Pacquiao said. "We are well prepared for this fight."

Pacquiao also dismissed notions he didn't have enough time to tinker with his strategy.

"I have been fighting right-handed boxers, I was able to adjust right away," Pacquiao, clad in a white polo shirt and black pants, said.

Will this Ugás be his last fight?  Pacquiao said it could be.

"It depends on the result and the fight, but I really love doing this, I am happy doing this," he said. "It's still the same feeling, I am very passionate about this sport."

Image courtesy of Wendell Alinea

Read full article on BusinessMirror