The Manny Pacquiao/Yordenis Ugas fight threw a monkey wrench into the big money fights the welterweight division had lined up for us. When Errol Spence had to bow out due to an eye injury, most fans thought it was a forgone conclusion that Pacquiao would win, and open up bigger money fights. Let’s not get it twisted, Ugas is a legit, top five fighter at 147. Ugas took advantage of a golden opportunity and cashed in. That win sent the welterweight money train in flux, or did it? So what’s next for the welterweight division? In this article, I am going to propose three potential big-money fights, and venues that should host, that will keep 147 as the money maker.
Shawn Porter vs Yordenis Ugas II
With Ugas as hot as he’s ever been, now is the time for him to get retribution. On March 9, 2019, Porter and Ugas met in a great fight. Porter won a razor-close split decision. I personally felt Porter won. My cousin Jeffery vehemently disagrees with it, but he knows. Now with Ugas being a draw, now is the time to run it back. Porter may not be ready for the adjustments he will make.
Since Ugas could potentially be the A-side of the card, the perfect venue would be LoanDepot Park in Miami. The home of the Marlins holds 37,000, and it will be full. LoanDepot is located in the Little Havana section of the city. With Ugas being Cuban, he will definitely be the crowd favorite. Shawn Porter is also the perfect foil to come to your place and win. This has the recipe for action due to it having components of national pride and it’s a rematch. I can hear cash registers going off with this one.
Manny Pacquaio vs Danny Garcia
Even though Pac-Man looks finished, he still has one more headlining performance in him. He is older now, and it showed against Ugas, but he can still make adjustments to win. The perfect opponent would be Danny Garcia. Garcia is the smallest of the big money guys at 147. Pacquaio can press him. If he brings pieces of the plan he used against Ugas, and finds the plan he used for Keith Thurman, I think it could be high octane! This will be big for Swift Garcia too! He needs a big win, and this may be it. Pacquaio is still a legend, and he’s still a PPV draw. Since this would potentially be Manny’s last dance, it should be in the Philippines, period. That would be crazy, especially if he won. The lead-up would be insane. Can you imagine the trash talk from Garcia’s trainer/father!
Terrence Crawford vs Errol Spence
This fight has to happen! The downside of boxing nowadays is the politics. It couldn’t be more evident than with these two studs. In my opinion, this is a once-in-a-generation feud. It’s this generation Sugar Ray/Duran or Ali/Fraiser. It’s a built-in trilogy. They are clearly the two best in the division. Philadelphia-bred artist Meek Mill coined the phrase “there’s levels to this”. Spence and Crawford are the top levels and everyone else is under them. This would be one for the ages.
The perfect venue would be Globe Life Field In Arlington, TX. It’s the new home of the Texas Rangers and is in Spence’s backyard. North Texas has become a hotbed for boxing recently, and Spence has been the driving force. It holds 40,000 and is only a year old. The other piece of this is Terrence Crawford is the ultimate road warrior, just ask Ricky Burns. This will be something you will tell your kids about for years to come.
We are thrilled to officially welcome boxing superstar @terencecrawford to GSE Worldwide! He is considered to be the best active pound-for-pound boxer in the world. “Bud” is the first Pro Boxer to join the GSE family! #GSENation #BudCrawford pic.twitter.com/mCLBMs5Vvo
— GSE Worldwide (@GSEworldwide) August 2, 2021
Conclusion
The scene at 147 can recover from Ugas playing spoiler. What’s next for the welterweight division? Hopefully, the boxing bureaucrats will listen and give us these fights. If they can make it happen, I will be tuned in, especially for Crawford vs Spence. Let’s hope they give the people what they want.
For more in-depth boxing analysis, check me out on Belly Up Sports. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @cboyd0.
1 Comment
Good stuff 🙂