The Cuban Yordenis Ugás is the Super Welterweight Champion of the World Boxing Association

January 31, 2021

After 10 years of leaving Cuba in a speedboat, of almost seeing his professional career become extinct, of the injustices that deprived him before the title, of overcoming coronavirus, finally, Yordenis Ugás was crowned super champion welterweight of professional boxing, fighting as he always does, in the name of Cuba.

Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugás (26-4, 12 KOs) was declared Super Champion of the welterweight division (147 pounds) of the World Boxing Association, WBA.

The boxer who held the prestigious title until this moment was the great Filipino Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2), who was named Champion in Recess for not having defended the belt since July 2019.

The Filipino had dethroned American Keith Thurman, but due to his inactivity since then, rule C.22-24 came into effect, which establishes that when a champion cannot defend the belt for medical, legal or other reasons beyond their control, they can be named Champion in Recess.

Ugás thanked God, his agent, his team, his family and his supporters. "It is a great day for me," said the great Cuban champion on Twitter.

Ugás, the first world champion welterweight of Cuban origin since Mantequilla Nápoles, thanked the WBA for elevating him to Super Champion. "Manny Pacquiao is a legend and will always be a champion," said the boxer residing in the United States.

The Cuban, who always thanks the opportunities he has had to demonstrate his ability in the ring, said that now boxing fans will have the opportunity to see a great unification fight in the welterweight division, and that he is more than willing to fight Pacquiao.

"Thank you all and I have great eagerness to announce what will come next," stated Yordenis Ugás, who won the welterweight title last September when he defeated Puerto Rican Abel Ramos.

That night in Los Angeles, Ugás made history by becoming the first Cuban in the welterweight division to win a world crown in 45 years, and now he has made history again, by becoming the WBA Super Champion.