BoxRec

Keith Thurman-Yordenis Ugas Interim Title Fight In Play For Mid-To-Late August

Another secondary welterweight title fight is in play.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that plans are in place for a Keith Thurman-Yordenis Ugas interim WBC welterweight title fight. A date and location were not yet established as this goes to publication but will take place in mid-to-late August.

Thurman confirmed at least the speculation of a planned showdown versus Ugas, during his most recent appearance on ‘Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer.’

The winner will be among those who will wait in line for a shot at the undisputed welterweight championship or an upgrade to full title status.

Errol Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) and Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) will meet for all four major titles atop a July 29 Showtime Pay-Per-View event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The summit meeting between the top two welterweights in the world carries a bilateral rematch clause that could further delay anyone else in the division getting a crack at the top prize.

Ugas (27-5, 12 KOs) was previously rumored to next face San Antonio’s Mario Barrios in an interim WBC title fight once targeted for July. A more sensible option has prevailed, given Thurman’s lopsided win over the former secondary WBA junior welterweight titlist in their welterweight meeting last February 5 in Las Vegas.

Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) has not fought since then, as he’s watched several discussed dates and options fall by the wayside. The most lucrative opportunity once linked to the former WBA/WBC welterweight champion was his own shot at Spence atop a Showtime Pay-Per-View that was eyed for this past February and again this spring.

Spence instead opted to dig in and work out terms for an undisputed showdown versus Crawford, even if it meant remaining inactive for more than a year. The 33-year-old southpaw from the greater Dallas area has not fought since a tenth-round stoppage of Ugas in their WBA, WBC and IBF unification bout last April 18 at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Ugas has also not fought since that night, which saw the end of his WBA welterweight title reign.

The 2008 Cuban Olympian won a secondary belt in September 2020 and was upgraded to ‘Super’ champion in January 2021. He further validated his reign in an August 2021 victory over former eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. Pacquiao was due to face Spence, who withdrew from their Fox Sports PPV due to a retinal injury requiring surgery. Ugas prevailed in the biggest win of his career, while Pacquiao retired after the fight.

Thurman has fought just once since the pandemic and since his July 2019 defeat to Pacquiao, which ended his WBA welterweight title reign. The 34-year-old Floridian prevailed as the top welterweight in the post-Floyd Mayweather era, validated by wins over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia, the latter coming in their March 2017 WBC/WBA unification bout between unbeaten titlists.

Injuries slowed his unified title reign to a crawl, as he was out of the ring for 22 months before he posted a January 2019 win over Josesito Lopez. The feat was followed by a competitive but clear defeat to Pacquiao later that Juiy before more injuries and Covid has left him with just one fight in the past four years.

The winner of Thurman-Ugas will become one of three recognized secondary titleholders at welterweight.

I like this matchup a lot.

Good fight. Ugas wins it for me.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑03 Jul 2023, 17:11
The winner of Thurman-Ugas will become one of three recognized secondary titleholders at welterweight.

Ah modern day boxing. Where there's a belt for everyone.

Good match up for One Time (a year, or is that decade?) Thurman.

If he can do a number on Ugas, he should be worthy of one more shot at the big time.

He still has cachet as a former unified champion and he talks a good game too.

Before the Spence fight, I'd say Ugas all day, but have to see what he's like after the beating Spence gave him. Broken ribs, jaw, eye socket. Hope hes 100% and wins though.

Those guys still box?

Lackeos wrote: ↑05 Jul 2023, 02:22 Those guys still box?

Good question. Ugas has been on a long healing process. Thurman? He likes to talk about boxing...

Syntax Error wrote: ↑04 Jul 2023, 09:28 Good match up for One Time (a year, or is that decade?) Thurman.

If he can do a number on Ugas, he should be worthy of one more shot at the big time.

He still has cachet as a former unified champion and he talks a good game too.

I suspect Ugas is gonna beat him. Ugas is more dedicated to his craft.

Ugas is the slighty better boxer and more skilled, but Thurman is faster and more athletic. Makes for a decent fight that I think Thurman would edge on the cards.

It's definitely an evenly matched contest that I can I see either man winning, and the winner puts himself into a position for another big fight.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑05 Jul 2023, 13:09 It's definitely an evenly matched contest that I can I see either man winning, and the winner puts himself into a position for another big fight.

The winner will most likely fight Stanionis or Boots. Both good fights.

If Thurman comes in a favourite this makes Ugas a live dog so to speak.

It'll be boring for sure. Their styles aren't going to lead to a FOTY contender. I'd say Thurman. They both can get negative, though, but Thurman will go Runtime and probably won't give Ugas much counter opportunities.

I think you nailed what will happen.

Shame this never got made.

Claressa Shields challenged Keith Thurman didn't she ?

This will be a PPV

The numbers on a PPV like this, must be stunningly low.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑10 Aug 2023, 12:13 The numbers on a PPV like this, must be stunningly low.

Benavidez-Andrade will Probably do better numbers

lmao, ppv for this??

6 years ago thurman was 28 years old, 28-0 (22kos), unified welterweight world champion, coming off beating prime Porter and Danny garcia... was lined up for a mega fight unification with spence.... That is about as good a position as any boxer has ever been.

Has not been a good 6 years though.

Still like this fight, think its very close to a coin toss, and 2 guys that with a bit of luck would be right near the top. the winner would have a chance at one final run if belts start splitting up and they get a lucky break.

PPV is a biggg stretch though. unless they end up with some really really really good undercard fights (fights so good they probably should be main event).

gregregegg wrote: ↑10 Aug 2023, 22:35 6 years ago thurman was 28 years old, 28-0 (22kos), unified welterweight world champion, coming off beating prime Porter and Danny garcia... was lined up for a mega fight unification with spence.... That is about as good a position as any boxer has ever been.

Has not been a good 6 years though.

Still like this fight, think its very close to a coin toss, and 2 guys that with a bit of luck would be right near the top. the winner would have a chance at one final run if belts start splitting up and they get a lucky break.

PPV is a biggg stretch though. unless they end up with some really really really good undercard fights (fights so good they probably should be main event).

Thats true. Elbow injury. After that he wasn't the same fighter.