WBA orders Ugas to defend title vs Stanionis in ‘Box-Off’

FILE–WBA (Super) champion Yordenis Ugas. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—A potential rematch between Manny Pacquiao and World Boxing Association (Super) champion Yordenis Ugas won’t be happening anytime soon.

In a resolution by the WBA, Ugas will defend his title against mandatory challenger Eimantas Stanionis while WBA (regular) champion Jamal James will face Radzhab Butaev in the first of two stages of a “Box-Off.”

The “Box-Off” is the sanctioning body’s move to crown a single welterweight champion.

The Ugas-Stanionis fight “must take place within 120 from the issuance of the resolution on September 15,” as per the WBA on its website.

The “Box-Off” winners will then fight each other before March to crown the sole welterweight champion.

Ugas stunned Pacquiao by unanimous decision last August 21 in Las Vegas to retain the WBA (Super) strap. The two have expressed willingness for a second meeting.

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