Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated1650190727

Errol Spence vs Yordenis Ugas LIVE: Latest updates, result and reaction tonight

Follow all the fallout from the main-event title fight

Alex Pattle
Combat Sports Correspondent
Sunday 17 April 2022 11:18 BST
Comments
Errol Spence Jr leaves AT&T Stadium with another welterweight belt
Errol Spence Jr leaves AT&T Stadium with another welterweight belt (Getty Images)

Errol Spence Jr added another welterweight title to his collection by stopping Yordenis Ugas on Saturday night.

Spence Jr, 32, retained the WBC and IBF belts at 147lbs while simultaneously taking his Cuban opponent’s WBA Super title. Prior to Saturday night’s main event, it had been 16 months since Spence Jr competed, with the American having beaten compatriot Danny Garcia via decision in December 2020 before going on to have surgery on his eye. That fight took place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where this Saturday’s headline bout was also staged. The 35-year-old Ugas (27-5, 12 knockouts), meanwhile, last fought in August, outpointing icon Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

The Cuban could not replicate that statement win, however, as he fell victim to Spence’s vicious and varied offence in front of a roaring Texas crowd. Though Ugas was spirited throughout, he began to wilt physically as the fight progressed. His best moment came with a one-two in the sixth round, when a distracted Spence expected the referee to retrieve his mouthguard. The punches sent the American staggering against the ropes, but Spence went on to produce his best work, causing Ugas’ right eye to swell significantly as the rounds passed by. Ultimately the injury led the official to call a stop to the action in the 10th round, ensuring a TKO victory for Spence Jr, the southpaw thus remaining unbeaten (28-0, 22 KOs) as he targets a unification clash with Terence Crawford.

Re-live round-by-round updates from Errol Spence Jr vs Yordenis Ugas this evening.

1650169415

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 9

Ugas’ activity level is way down now. It’s largely a matter of whether he will make it to the judges’ scorecards.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 05:23
1650169155

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 8

Spence is walking down Ugas.

The variety of shots from Spence now is wonderful to see. Ugas can’t react quickly enough; he doesn’t know what’s coming, and it’s not helped by the fact that his eye is almost swollen shut on the side where Spence’s power punches come from.

The referee pauses the action to allow a doctor to check Ugas’ right eye. The fight will continue for now.

Ugas is very heavy on his legs at this point.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 05:19
1650168896

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 7

Is Ugas in trouble here???

Spence connects with a series of left hooks and uppercuts to the head, and the Cuban just shells up and staggers backwards somewhat.

Ugas’ right eye is swollen and it looks like he’s slowly starting to wilt now. He tries to hold Spence, who shoves his opponent away.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 05:14
1650168646

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 6

Spence loses his mouthguard and thinks the referee is going to pause the fight to hand it back to him.

The official doesn’t, however, and Ugas drills the American with a one-two! It sends Spence staggering back against the ropes!

Eventually the referee retrieves the mouthguard for Spence, who is briefly able to rest.

Spence seems fired up now and pushes forward as the round winds down, landing spiteful body hooks. The Texas crowd roars.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 05:10
1650168407

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 5

Spence is starting to assert himself now.

He’s throwing everything with power, it seems, connecting with numerous hooks to the body and head as Ugas shells up and barely returns fire.

The Cuban is still throwing with accuracy when he does punch, however, and he opens up a little more as the round ends.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 05:06
1650168140

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 4

Both men exhibit effective guards in this round as they throw heavy punches.

Spence sneaks in a left uppercut and left hook to the head of Ugas, though.

Now rapid head movement from Spence and good footwork to evade shots.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 05:02
1650167920

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 3

Again Spence jabs high and then throws to the body. Again he stings Ugas with a left straight upstairs,

Now he gets in close and digs hooks into the midriff of Ugas.

Ugas throws a heavy right hook up top, but he doesn’t quite catch Spence clean.

The American returns fire with more body hooks from close range.

Again Ugas tries for right hooks to the head, with one landing flush and another catching the gloves of Spence – still, it’s powerful and Spence has to brace.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 04:58
1650167652

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 2

Higher output from Spence in Round 1, but lower accuracy than Ugas.

Early in the second round and Spence ducks upon entry, before grabbing hold of Ugas.

They’re free, and Spence is jabbing high to set up straight power shots to the body.

The southpaw catches Ugas with a hard left straight to the head!

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 04:54
1650167415

Spence Jr vs Ugas

Round 1

Lots of jabbing early on. Both men target the body throughout.

Spence tries to set up an overhand right, but Ugas rolls under it.

The same happens again, and this time Ugas counters with a fast left hook to the body!

Spence responds with a one-two of hooks to the body.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 04:50
1650167153

Spence Jr vs Ugas

It’s finally time! The fighters make their way to the ring.

Alex Pattle17 April 2022 04:45

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in