Napilitang mag-withdraw mula sa nakatakda nilang laban ni Manny Pacquiao sa Agosto 21 si World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Errol Spence, Jr. matapps mapag-alamang mayroon itong retinal tear sa kaliwang mata noong Miyerkules (Agosto 11) Manila time.

Napili at pumayag na maging kapalit ni Spence si Yordenis Ugas ng Cuba, bronze medalist noong 2008 Beijing Olympics para sa main event sa T-Mobile Arena sa Las Vegas.

Natuklasan ni Spence na may punit ang kanyang retina sa idinaos matapos itong isailalim sa pre-fight medical examination sa Nevada State Athletic Commission sa Las Vegas, nitong Lunes.

"I was excited about the fight and the event. Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery on it ASAP and that there was no way I could fight with my eye in that condition," paglillinaw ng boksingero.

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Sasailalim sa operasyon si Spence na naatakdang umuwi na sa Dallas, Texas nitong Miyerkules.

"I ask everyone to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery for Errol Spence Jr.. Thank God his physical examination discovered his eye condition before he suffered any further damage," ani Spence.

Si Ugas na may record na 26-4, kabilang ang 12 knockouts ay naging world champion noong Enero nang mapanalunan nya ang WBA welterweight championship belt sa bisa ng panalo nya kay Abel Ramos noong Setyembre.

Isa umanong malaking karangalan para sa 35-anyos na si Ugas ang pagkakataon na makalaban ang dating 8th world division champion na si Pacquiao.

"I've been in camp working hard with my coach Ismael Salas and I know together we will come up with a masterful game plan to combat anything Manny will bring to the ring," dagdag pa ni Pacquiao.

Marivic Awitan