The countdown is on for the much-anticipated fight between Pinoy legend Manny Pacquaio and Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas.
Dubbed 'Pacquiao vs. Ugas: The Legend vs. The Olympian,' the match will pit Filipino boxing icon and eight-division world champion Pacquaio against Cuban Olympic bronze medalist Ugas with the latter's WBA super welterweight title on the line.
The bout will take place tomorrow, August 22 (Philippine time), at 11 a.m. and will be shown on GMA-7.
GMA's flagship AM station Super Radyo DZBB will also broadcast the live blow-by-blow coverage of the fight at 9:00 a.m.
But before the ring hostilities, both Pacquiao and Ugas graced the customary pre-fight events during the week in Las Vegas to hype up the upcoming match.
Take a look at what transpired during these events leading to the big fight tomorrow.
Manny Pacquiao and his team arriving at Toshiba Plaza in front of T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon.
The event at Toshiba Plaza was designed as a grand arrival ceremony to welcome both fighters.
A ring veteran with several main events under his belt, Pacquiao was calm and composed in front of the crowd that gathered to see the fighters.
“It's pretty hot in here,” Pacquiao smilingly said, referring to the humid Las Vegas weather.
The Filipino boxing champion was accompanied by familiar faces, most notably trainer Freddie Roach.
The two fighters facing each other in full view of spectators.
Yordenis Ugas from Cuba moved up to the main event to fight Pacquiao after Errol Spence Jr. withdrew because of an eye injury.
The two fighters met again, this time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Event Level on Wednesday.
The press conference gave both fighters a chance to speak to the media before they settle the score on Sunday (Philippine time).
Pacquiao is an eight-division world champion, while Ugas is the current WBA super welterweight champ.
There is, however, an interesting twist to the fight.
The WBA super welterweight title that Ugas has was first held by Pacquiao when he defeated Keith Thurman in 2019.
Pacquiao was stripped of the title due to inactivity. He will now have a chance to reclaim the belt.
Winning back the WBA super welterweight title is more than enough motivation for Pacquiao to face Ugas.
“We should settle it in the ring, it doesn't seem right that they (WBA) took away my belt without a fight,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao said that there is a chance that his fight with Ugas might be his last.
“This might be my last, or one of the last fights. I take it one fight at a time,” Pacquiao told reporters days before the press conference.
Ugas, meanwhile, would be happy to fight the legendary boxer for the last time.
“I'm so honored to be fighting a legend. But if this is Pacquiao's last time making his way in the ring, he will fight someone of a caliber like me. Then I'm going to give my best effort,” the Olympic bronze medalist said.
Should Pacquiao decide to quit boxing for good, it will also mark the end of his long and fruitful journey with longtime American trainer, Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao's decision to retire, however, will also depend on the outcome of the fight.
This makes the Pacquiao-Ugas bout all the more exciting and worth watching for boxing fans.