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WBC welterweight champion Shawn Porter (29-2-1, 17 KOs) will be making his first defense of his title against #6 WBC Yordenis Ugas (23-3, 11 KOs) on March 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to ElNuevoHerald.



This is a defense that was expected for the 31-year-old Porter, being that Ugas fought on the undercard of his last fight on September 8 in beating Cesar Miguel Barrionuevo by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“I hope that next year I can fight for a crown of the world,” Ugás said to the elnuevoherald.com. “I earned that right. They can not give me away anymore. One way or the other, I will fight to become a world champion.”

Ugas,32, should be fighting IBF welterweight champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr. (24-0, 21 KOs) for his title after becoming his mandatory challenger last September. However, Spence chose to defend his International Boxing Federation title next against WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia. Those two are expected to face each other in the first quarter of 2019 in a big pay-per-view fight on Showtime. Rather than wait around for the smoke to clear from the Spence vs. Garcia fight, the 2008 Cuban Olympian Ugas decided to challenge Porter for his WBC 147 lb title.

An expected option.

I can see Ugas squeaking by in this one.

A much more technically sound fighter than Porter. Not surprising as most decorated Cuban amateurs are sound stylists.

Porter's work rate will always capture the judges' attention. But Ugas is definitely going to make this a very close and probably controversial fight.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑14 Nov 2018, 14:54 I can see Ugas squeaking by in this one.

A much more technically sound fighter than Porter. Not surprising as most decorated Cuban amateurs are sound stylists.

Porter's work rate will always capture the judges' attention. But Ugas is definitely going to make this a very close and probably controversial fight.

I see it the opposite Pippi.
I see Porter squeaking a decision.
His experience at the top level will allow him to do enough to seal the rounds and nullify Ugas for a lot of the later rounds.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑12 Dec 2018, 15:00

SenorPipino wrote: ↑14 Nov 2018, 14:54 I can see Ugas squeaking by in this one.

A much more technically sound fighter than Porter. Not surprising as most decorated Cuban amateurs are sound stylists.

Porter's work rate will always capture the judges' attention. But Ugas is definitely going to make this a very close and probably controversial fight.

I see it the opposite Pippi.
I see Porter squeaking a decision.
His experience at the top level will allow him to do enough to seal the rounds and nullify Ugas for a lot of the later rounds.

You better run your prediction by Gilgamesh, a notorious Ugas supporter.

If the judging is spot on, and clean punches landed are given more credit than aggressiveness and punches thrown, Ugas will win clearly.

I like this match. Ugas beat decent competition to get this chance at big stage and big payday.

I like Ugas. I hope he can pull off the mild upset here, he'll be a tough nights work for Porter regardless of the outcome of that I have no doubt.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑12 Dec 2018, 16:28 You better run your prediction by Gilgamesh, a notorious Ugas supporter.

Yeah, nah, Gil's not as hot on Ugas as he is on Fury. I'll be fine

WBC Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter will make his first title defense in primetime as he battles mandatory challenger Yordenis Ugas Saturday, March 9 in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes live from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see Porter defend his title after defeating Danny Garcia in an exciting September clash to capture the WBC belt. He will face Cuba's Ugas, who has worked his way to this position with an impressive string of eight-straight victories leading up to March 9.

The action also features a duel between two hard-hitting brawlers as Andrzej Fonfara and Edwin Rodriguez meet in a 10-round cruiserweight match in the co-feature, while heavy-handed slugger Efe Ajagba steps up to face experienced veteran Amir Mansour in an eight-round heavyweight attraction in the televised opener.

Undefeated bantamweight prospect Damien Vazquez battles former world champion Juan Carlos Payano in an eight or 10-round attraction while unbeaten welterweight prospect and 2016 Lithuanian Olympian Eimantas Stanionis will face once-beaten Sammy Figueroa in an eight-round fight on Premier Boxing Champions Prelims on FS1 Saturday, March 9 live from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California.

Prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and lead into a PBC on FOX and FOX Deportes show that's headlined by WBC Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter making his first title defense in primetime against mandatory challenger Yordenis Ugas.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com.

I actually think Ugas can get the upset here. He's a solid fighter who has good power in his punches, not necessarily big KO power, but noticeable eye catching power all the same, and he's pretty skilled.

Porter is a workhorse so there's no way it won't be close, but I can see Ugas getting the win with cleaner, better offense, and I'm picking him to win. Of course I won't be shocked at all if Porter wins a close one either, but I fully expect Ugas will give him all he can handle. I hope the judging is on the level.

ugas is skilled but think hell just get outhustled

still hes a good comeback story. picks up 3 losses and really looks like hes a pro letdown, goes a way a few years, comes back to score a surprise upset and then puts together a nice winning streak to reach a high point and get a shot

jamamb wrote: ↑21 Feb 2019, 16:11 ugas is skilled but think hell just get outhustled

And that's definitely a strong possibility as well. It's an intriguing fight for sure.

jamamb wrote: ↑21 Feb 2019, 16:11 ugas is skilled but think hell just get outhustled

still hes a good comeback story. picks up 3 losses and really looks like hes a pro letdown, goes a way a few years, comes back to score a surprise upset and then puts together a nice winning streak to reach a high point and get a shot

Did Ugas change trainers before the his current streak?

Any news on this being picked up in UK?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Feb 2019, 16:12

jamamb wrote: ↑21 Feb 2019, 16:11 ugas is skilled but think hell just get outhustled

And that's definitely a strong possibility as well. It's an intriguing fight for sure.

That's why I think Porter takes it.

If he throws 200 more punches, the judges will reward him, even if he only connects on 15% of them.

Porter (29-2-1, 17KOs) checked in at 148.8 pounds ahead of his scheduled 12-round welterweight title defense versus Yordenis Ugas. A two-hour period will be granted to Porter to shed at least 1.8 pounds to get down to the 147-pound divisional limit for their planned PBC on Fox headliner Saturday evening at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.

Ugas (23-3-, 11KOS), a native of Cuba who now lives and trains in Las Vegas, came in at a trim and fit 146.6 pounds. The bout marks his first crack at a major title, entering on the heels of an eight-fight win streak since returning to the ring in 2016 following a two-year break to clear his head.

Porter was saying he didn’t wanna lost the world title in the same arena he lost to Brook. Ha!

Two hours and an impromptu haircut later, Shawn Porter remains the defending World Boxing Council welterweight title.

Whether that remains true by the end of Saturday's showdown with Yordenis Ugas remains another matter altogether.

"I don't know what happened (the first time)," Porter (29-2-1, 17KOs) said of initially missing weight. "I think I just got started late on the process (of cutting weight during fight week)."

With the scale drama out of the way, Porter is set to square off with Ugas, live in primetime on Fox TV (Saturday, 8:00pm ET/5:00pm local) from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.

Upon his failed first attempt, Porter was granted two additional hours by the California State Athletic Commission to get down to the contracted 147-pound limit. The Ohio native—now based in Las Vegas—used the full time slot and even resorted to having his braids cut off in leaving no stone unturned.

Per the California State Athletic Commission, official contract purses for Saturday night’s Premier Boxing Champions card on Fox:

Shawn Porter $1.25 million, Yordenis Ugas $300k,

Abel Ramos $50k, Francisco Santana $50k,

Efe Ajagba $8k, Amir Mansour $25k,

Damien Vazquez $15k, Juan Carlos Payano $5k,

Eimantas Stanionis $8k, Samuel Figueroa $10k,

Robert Guerrero $25k, Hevinson Herrera $1k,

Jesus Cuellar $40k, Carlos Padilla $1k.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 09:16 Per the California State Athletic Commission, official contract purses for Saturday night’s Premier Boxing Champions card on Fox:

Shawn Porter $1.25 million, Yordenis Ugas $300k,

Abel Ramos $50k, Francisco Santana $50k,

Efe Ajagba $8k, Amir Mansour $25k,

Damien Vazquez $15k, Juan Carlos Payano $5k,

Eimantas Stanionis $8k, Samuel Figueroa $10k,

Robert Guerrero $25k, Hevinson Herrera $1k,

Jesus Cuellar $40k, Carlos Padilla $1k.

Is that $8K figure for Ajagba accurate.? He can't be one of the lowest paid guys on the card.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 12:03

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 09:16 Per the California State Athletic Commission, official contract purses for Saturday night’s Premier Boxing Champions card on Fox:

Shawn Porter $1.25 million, Yordenis Ugas $300k,

Abel Ramos $50k, Francisco Santana $50k,

Efe Ajagba $8k, Amir Mansour $25k,

Damien Vazquez $15k, Juan Carlos Payano $5k,

Eimantas Stanionis $8k, Samuel Figueroa $10k,

Robert Guerrero $25k, Hevinson Herrera $1k,

Jesus Cuellar $40k, Carlos Padilla $1k.

Is that $8K figure for Ajagba accurate.? He can't be one of the lowest paid guys on the card.

Why do you say that? Do you think he draws enough ticket buyers on his own to be worth more at this stage of his career?