All set for Pacquiao-Ugas fight today

We again go off our usual topic and discuss the biggest sporting event in the country today, which is the Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas fight that will happen this morning, Philippine time at Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao and Ugas tipped the scales yesterday setting their World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title showdown at the T-Mobile Arena in downtown Las Vegas.

Ugas, 35, tipped the scale at 147 pounds. He is the defending champion.

On the other hand, Pacquiao, 42, comes in as the challenger. The future Boxing Hall of Famer weighed at 146 pounds.The welterweight limit is at 147 pounds.

“I’m very emotional and very excited for this opportunity,” the Cuban Ugas said who sports a record of 26 wins, 4 losses and 12 knockout victories.

“I have the belt. Whoever wins tomorrow (today, Sunday) gets the belt. But right now, I’m the champion,” he added.

In one of the undercards, undefeated Tagbilaran-native Mark Magsayo also made weight for his featherweight bout against Mexican Julio Ceja.

The 26-year-old Magsayo weighed in at 125.5 lbs for the 12-round bout that serves as a title eliminator for the right to face reigning World Boxing Council champion Gary Russell.

Magsayo keeps a perfect 22-0 record with 15 wins coming via knockouts.

Meanwhile, Ceja, 28, hit the scale at 125 lbs. The Mexican (32-4-1, 28 KOs) thrice fought for the world championship belt, but lost on all three times.

Filipino American John Dato also stakes his undefeated record in the Pacquiao-Ugas undercard as he faces Mexican Angel Contreras in a featherweight bout set for eighth rounds.

The 28-year-old Dato, who was born in Bangar, La Union but grew up in California, has a 14-0-1 record with 9 KOs, while Contreras’ record stands at 10 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws with 6 knockouts.