Errol Spence vs. Yordenis Ugas | Showtime PPV - April 16, 2022

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Spence-Ugas Undercard: Isaac Cruz To Face Yuriorkis Gamboa In Showtime PPV Co-Feature

Two lightweights who’ve lost to Gervonta Davis will attempt to win their way toward another title shot April 16.

BS.com has learned that Isaac Cruz and Yuriorkis Gamboa have agreed to meet in a 12-round, 135-pound bout on the Errol Spence Jr.-Yordenis Ugas undercard at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Showtime Pay-Per-View will televise the Cruz-Gamboa bout as the co-feature before Spence and Ugas square off in a welterweight title unification fight at the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys.

The news was first reported on ESPN.com.

Mexico’s Cruz (22-2-1, 15 KOs) gave Davis perhaps the most difficult fight of his career December 5 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old Cruz ended Davis’ 16-fight knockout streak and pushed the three-division champion in their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event.

Baltimore’s Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) aggravated a pre-existing injury to his left hand during his victory over Cruz, but Cruz displayed durability and toughness during what was a challenging championship match for him as well. Judges Carla Caiz and Max De Luca scored Davis only a 115-113 winner versus Cruz, who lost 116-112 on the card of judge Zachary Young.

Gamboa (30-4, 18 KOs), who turned 40 late in December, hasn’t boxed in 15 months. The former three-division champion lost a lopsided, 12-round unanimous decision to unbeaten WBC world lightweight champ Devin Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) in his most recent action, which took place in November 2020 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The Cuban-born, Miami-based Gamboa, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, was supposed to face Chris Colbert on July 3 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. He withdrew from that 12-round WBA interim super featherweight championship match against Brooklyn’s Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) less than two weeks in advance due to rib and heel injuries.

Cruz-Gamboa will be one of four fights Showtime will televise as part of its pay-per-view event April 16. As BS.com previously reported, Jose Valenzuela (11-0, 7 KOs), a 22-year-old lightweight prospect from Seattle, will meet Mexico City’s Francisco Vargas (27-3-2, 19 KOs), a former WBC super featherweight champ, in a 10-round lightweight bout.

Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), of DeSoto, Texas, and the Cuban-born Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) will fight for Spence’s IBF and WBC welterweight titles, as well as Ugas’ WBA “super” 147-pound crown.

[gregregegg]

Thats a really nice under-card fight. hope cruz can win, he has more shelf life as being a fun name in the division.

[emallini]

Cruz will get the stoppage

[Ruthless-RKO]

Don’t really have any interest in keep watching 40 year old Gamboa.

Decent fight tho.

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Butaev defends his crown against Stanionis on April 16

Radzhab Butaev and Eimantas Stanionis will step into the ring on April 16 to dispute the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight championship held by the former.

The bout will be part of the Premier Boxing Champions evening, which will feature Yordenis Ugas and Errol Spence Jr. unifying their championships.

Butaev comes from defeating Jamal James on October 30 to take his crown and to get ready for his next fight, against Stanionis. The Russian champion will make another appearance in the United States, where he has been making a name for himself and is looking to face the best in the division.

However, Lithuanian Stanionis will not be an easy opponent. He is one of the strongest young fighters in the division and has the same intentions of making it to the top. The 27-year-old fighter has already defeated opponents like Justin DeLoach and Thomas Dulorme, so he is a danger in this showdown.

Butaev comes in with a record of 14 wins, no losses and 11 knockouts, while Stanionis has 13 wins and 9 knockouts.

[margaret thatcher]

thats a good fight

[gregregegg]

Wow thats a suprising under-card bonus. Couple of very evenly matched, good amatures, sub 15-0ish* guys willing to battle on an under-card. boxing is hard work when your not american or brittish.

[Cent0089]

Love Stanionis - Butaev undercard

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Love Stanionis - Butaev undercard

Add in Isaac Cruz vs. Gamboa.

They’re making it a decent undercard.

[Cent0089]

Love Stanionis - Butaev undercard

Add in Isaac Cruz vs. Gamboa.

They’re making it a decent undercard.

Too bad they did not add some bigger guys too

[Ruthless-RKO]

Love Stanionis - Butaev undercard

Add in Isaac Cruz vs. Gamboa.

They’re making it a decent undercard.

Too bad they did not add some bigger guys too

They save the for HW undercard’s.

[Evander]

Surprised Spence isn't a bigger betting favourite, only -350 last time I checked.

[gregregegg]

Surprised Spence isn't a bigger betting favourite, only -350 last time I checked.

Spence is coming off a car crash and a detached/torn retna.

Ugas is coming off Beating pac, beating ramos (should of been wide), schooling figueroa, Beating porter and got robbed.

I can see how the odds are where they are. With fair judging i actualy think it could be closer than that all things considered. But with how i expect the judging to be id have spence as a bigger favorite. Ugas gets a hard time from judges.

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Press Conference Stream @ 12 am ET

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Press Release

WBC and IBF world champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and WBA world champion Yordenis Ugas will square off in a welterweight title unification clash that headlines a Showtime PPV on Saturday, April 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in a Premier Boxing Champions event. Spence vs. Ugas is just the 12th unification fight in the rich history of the welterweight division, joining other classic matchups such as “Sugar” Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns I and Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao.

One of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, Spence looks to add a third welterweight championship belt to his resume when he returns to fight at AT&T Stadium in front of his hometown fans for the third time. Cuba’s Ugas has torn through the welterweight division since 2016, winning 12 of his last 13 fights, including most recently securing his WBA championship with a unanimous decision victory over legendary eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in August.

“Errol Spence vs. Yordenis Ugas is a fight that will once again show the world how passionate boxing fans are in North Texas,” said Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones. “AT&T Stadium was built to host big time events like this one, and we’re grateful to join with SHOWTIME, TGB Promotions, Man Down Promotions and Premier Boxing Champions for this incredible showdown on April 16.“

“Showtime Sports is proud to present one of the biggest events of 2022 and stylistically a can’t-miss matchup,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “The history of the welterweight division is chock-full of legendary fights but precious few title unifications. Much credit should be given to Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas for embracing this challenge and putting their titles on the line. But it’s not surprising. Spence is the best welterweight in boxing. There’s no debate when you consider his performances over the past several years. That being said, Yordenis Ugas is coming off the biggest win of his career. His confidence is sky high and he has the skills to back it up. If you had to pick a winner, it would be the fans.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at SeatGeek.com, the Official Ticketing Provider of AT&T Stadium.

Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) returns to the ring after he was forced to pull out of a summer showdown against Pacquiao due to an eye injury that he has since recovered from. The 31-year-old was launched into stardom when he first captured a welterweight crown by traveling to the U.K. to stop Kell Brook in front of Brook’s hometown fans in 2017 on SHOWTIME. Following triumphs over Lamont Peterson and Carlos Ocampo, Spence added the WBC 147-pound belt to his collection by dropping Shawn Porter on his way to a unanimous decision victory in one of 2019’s best matchups.

Fighting out of his native Desoto, Texas, Spence has twice competed at AT&T Stadium, the home of his beloved Dallas Cowboys. He has earned unanimous decision victories at the venue in March 2019 over four-division champion Mikey Garcia, and in December 2020 against two-division champion Danny Garcia. Spence represented the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics before turning pro later that year and scoring knockouts in 10 of his first 12 fights, showing the promise that he would eventually fulfill on the biggest stages of the sport.

“There’s nothing better than fighting in front of my hometown fans at AT&T Stadium,” said Spence. “This is the perfect stage for me to fight for a third welterweight world title and unify the championships. I’m healthy and ready to go. Yordenis Ugas has proven to be a tough champion and I know he will bring his very best. It’s a high-stakes fight on a big stage and that always brings out the best in me. The fans should expect fireworks at AT&T Stadium and on SHOWTIME PPV on April 16.’’

Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) has established himself as an elite welterweight since returning from a layoff in 2016 and elevating himself to world champion in January 2021 after winning a WBA belt by defeating Abel Ramos in September 2020. He solidified his world-championship status last August, when he stepped in for an injured Spence to defeat Pacquiao by unanimous decision.

Hailing from Santiago, Cuba and now living in Miami, Florida, Ugas was on an eight-fight winning streak before losing a narrow split-decision to Shawn Porter in his first world title fight in March 2019, having been edged out on the scorecards after what appeared to be a 12th-round knockdown in his favor was ruled a slip by the referee. The Olympic bronze medalist trains in Las Vegas with renowned coach Ismael Salas and owns victories over then undefeated fighters Jamal James, Omar Figueroa Jr. and Bryant Perrella, plus veteran contenders Thomas Dulorme and Ray Robinson.

“It’s a tremendous blessing to be in another big pay-per-view fight, especially against a great champion and top pound-for-pound fighter like Errol Spence Jr.,” said Ugas. “These are the types of fights that fans deserve. We both have plenty of time to prepare for each other, which means we are primed and ready to give the fans a show. I have a great trainer in Ismael Salas, who will have me prepared for battle. On fight night everyone will see a man at his best both physically and mentally. I’m pleased to have a hard-working team behind me and I’m thankful for this opportunity. On April 16 the energy in AT&T Stadium will be amazing.”

[gregregegg]

Had Ugas fought the same, but won every decision i wonder how people would rate him??? becuase i doubt he would of lost them if he was a blue chip prospect from USA...

Currently peoples view is Crawford and spence up top. Ugas and porter next and boots and ortiz jr the next big things that may or may not already be top levle...

If he had been given those 4 close decisions he lost and was 31-0 would it be the Big 3?

[margaret thatcher]

the loss to imam was fairly wide. he was a hot prospect and the hyped favourite back when he fought garcia, but he got dropped and disappointed

if you reversed his split decision losses he'd be 30-1, probably rated higher, but then again so would a lot of guys if you gave them wins for the close fights they lost. remember he also beat dulorme by only 1 point, so if we play that game it could go against him too

[lookingaround87]

Spence is coming off a car crash and a detached/torn retna.

No he's not, he fought Garcia and looked great in his victory.

[margaret thatcher]

ya, he already fought since the car crash and looked good enough, not buying that as an excuse any more. the retina was more recently though

[gregregegg]

the loss to imam was fairly wide. he was a hot prospect and the hyped favourite back when he fought garcia, but he got dropped and disappointed

if you reversed his split decision losses he'd be 30-1, probably rated higher, but then again so would a lot of guys if you gave them wins for the close fights they lost

Never seen it honestly so ill take your word for it (although boxrec fan scoring with its 2 probably drunk bias scores had ugas slightly up...)

But yea, i always wonder what things could be different with some different judging..., still blows my mind how much people take into account official judging on fights they saw and have a strong opinion on, myself included...

GGGs canelo fights is a classic example, where although he went at least 1-1 past prime it still somehow feels like its dented him and pushed canelo forwards....

Or catteral. everyones pissed with it now, but in a years time Catteral isnt going to be on any pound for pound lists, He would be if he had just beat josh taylor for for belts by a wide margin.

Jerry forrest? IF he got the decision vs both hunter and franklin (both of which i think he deserved), combined with his draw that nearly killed zhang he would be boarderline top 15 instead of a low levle gatekeeper.

Chocolatito if he had beat estrada in the second fight and the thai guy (both of which i think he deserved)... he would be well up on the p4p list...

[Bandog]

Spence is coming off a car crash and a detached/torn retna.

No he's not, he fought Garcia and looked great in his victory.

Most (including me) thought Spence looked average vs Garcia. By the way, questions arise when you have only one fight in the past nearly 2 years. Right now I'd favor Spence over Ugas 60/40, but it won't be easy.

[Bandog]

Why does it seem to be a hidden fact, so to speak, that Ugas not only dominated Pac, he did it with an arm injury?

[lookingaround87]

Why does it seem to be a hidden fact, so to speak, that Ugas not only dominated Pac, he did it with an arm injury?

He didn't dominate and Pacquiao looked absolutely awful, completely shot.