FILE — Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr pose for the media following their press conference at Fox Studios on July 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Michael Owens/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Errol Spence won’t be attending the WBA welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas on Sunday (Manila time) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In an interview with ES News, Spence’s trainer Derrick James said the IBF and WBC champion will be absent from the fight as traveling is still prohibited following his eye surgery.
“He burst his eyeball, due to the air pressure he can’t travel,” said James. “He could drive but he can’t travel at high altitudes.”
Spence was supposed to defend his titles, as well as take a shot at the Ring Magazine championship, in his fight against Pacquiao but he had to pull out of the match due to torn retina in his left eye.
Match organizers had no choice but to elevate Yordenis Ugas, who was supposed to fight Fabian Maidana in the undercard, to the main event and defend his WBA Super title against Pacquiao
James said that while they did everything right heading into the Pacquiao fight, there are still things that are beyond their control.
“We’ve trained for months, he [Spence] had a chef fly in, he’s sacrificed and spent a lot of money,” said James. “That’s part of the game. We make plans, but other things happen.”
The trainer also harbored no ill will against Ugas and wished the Cuban luck against Pacquiao.
“We’ve always liked Ugas and I want him to make the best of his opportunity,” said James. “I know he will and I believe that.”