Manny Pacquiao suffered a dramatic upset defeat Saturday at the hands of Cuba's Yordenis Ugas, who outclassed the Filipino boxing icon with a composed, unanimous points victory at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In his first fight after a two-year absence from the ring, Pacquiao was made to look every bit of his 42 years as the younger Ugas dominated with a stinging jab and cleaner punching to retain his WBA welterweight belt.
Ugas, 35, had only been drafted in to face Pacquiao earlier this month after the eight-division world champion's original opponent Errol Spence Jr. suffered an eye injury in training.
But the defending champion seized his opportunity brilliantly to win on all three cards, with one judge scoring it 115-113 and two others 116-112.
"That's boxing," a deflated Pacquiao said afterwards.
"I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments. My legs were tight. I'm sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best."
It was a sweet victory for Ugas, who had been awarded the WBA title after Pacquiao was stripped of the belt by the sanctioning body earlier this year for inactivity.
"I'm very excited but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this opportunity in the ring today," said Ugas, who improves to 27-4 with 12 knockouts. "We only had two weeks of training but I listened to my corner and it all worked out.
"I told you I am the champion of the WBA and I showed it tonight. A lot of respect for (Pacquiao), but I won the fight."
The defeat is almost certain to renew doubts about Pacquiao's future in the sport he has graced through 72 fights spanning 26 years since 1995.
However, Pacquiao could have few complaints about the eighth defeat of his glittering career.
Although the Filipino was aggressive throughout, advancing with flurries of punches from the opening round, few of his blows inflicted damage on Ugas, who cleverly used his advantages in reach and height to frustrate Pacquiao.
Ugas scored consistently with crisper punches that often rocked Pacquiao back on his heels.
Ugas's jolting left jab caused problems for Pacquiao throughout, and he repeatedly did damage with a series of powerful rights.
After a cagey opening round, Ugas quickly asserted himself in the middle rounds, startling Pacquiao with a left-right combination in the fifth before ending the sixth with another hard right.
A T-Mobile crowd of 17,438 tried to rally Pacquiao with chants of "Manny, Manny" throughout but the Filipino's legion of admirers grew steadily more subdued as the rounds wore on.
Pacquiao, with a cluster of red marks on his cheek and forehead a testament to Ugas's increasing effectiveness, continued to come forward as he sought a big round to change the complexion of the contest.
But Ugas would not be denied, and he had Pacquiao scrambling onto the defensive once again after landing a double left jab and a right hook in quick succession in the 10th, before closing out the final rounds to win.
Despite his failure to reclaim the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight belt, Pacquiao will always be the Filipino “People's Champ,” the Palace said Sunday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said public support for Pacquiao's boxing career has always been “unwavering.”
“The boxing icon’s loss in Las Vegas would not diminish the honors he bestowed to our country and the joy he gave to our people,” he said in a press statement.
The statement was in contrast to the vicious attacks that President Rodrigo Duterte launched against Pacquiao, who is also a senator and who wants to run for president next year.
He said the 42-year-old Filipino boxer will always hold a special place in the hearts of every Filipino.
The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), to which both the President and the boxer-senator belong, also expressed pride in Pacquiao for putting up a “good fight” against the 35-year-old Cuban fighter.
“His loss may be unexpected to a nation still euphoric over a sterling Olympic performance of our athletes but the outcome did not diminish our respect to the man who brought so much honor to the country and put the Philippines in the sporting map around the globe,” the PDP-Laban said.
Pacquiao was PDP-Laban president until an assembly called by PDP-Laban vice-chair and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi declared party positions vacant.
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Pacquiao had nothing left to prove in the boxing ring.
“He will forever remain the People’s Champ, our Pambansang Kamao. We’re still proud of you, Manny!” he said.
Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said Pacquiao had nothing to be ashamed of, saying he gave it his all but Ugas fought a smart fight.
He described Pacquiao as gracious in both victory and defeat and said the senator has been an inspiration in the last 20 years for all Filipinos.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, who may also run for president, said Pacquiao is and will always be the People's Champ who brought unprecedented honor to the country.
“I don't think there will be another boxer in the world who can equal his feat, at least not in the next 100 years. That, plus his big heart for the poor and the downtrodden,” he said.
On both counts, Lacson said Pacquiao is the champion Filipinos will always love and admire.
Senator Richard Gordon said Pacquiao should hold his head up.
“He fought a 25-month layoff and [fought] a taller, hungrier Ugas. He has already and truly earned the eternal respect of the world. We are ever proud of him,” Gordon said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Pacquiao was still his champion. “He made the Filipino proud,” he said.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, a Pacquiao supporter, described the boxer-senator as “a national treasure” who showed his bravery “which can be used in other aspects of life.”