Errol Spence vs Yordenis Ugas LIVE: Latest updates, result and reaction tonight
Follow all the fallout from the main-event title fight
Errol Spence Jr added another welterweight title to his collection by stopping Yordenis Ugas on Saturday night.
Spence Jr, 32, retained the WBC and IBF belts at 147lbs while simultaneously taking his Cuban opponent’s WBA Super title. Prior to Saturday night’s main event, it had been 16 months since Spence Jr competed, with the American having beaten compatriot Danny Garcia via decision in December 2020 before going on to have surgery on his eye. That fight took place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where this Saturday’s headline bout was also staged. The 35-year-old Ugas (27-5, 12 knockouts), meanwhile, last fought in August, outpointing icon Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
The Cuban could not replicate that statement win, however, as he fell victim to Spence’s vicious and varied offence in front of a roaring Texas crowd. Though Ugas was spirited throughout, he began to wilt physically as the fight progressed. His best moment came with a one-two in the sixth round, when a distracted Spence expected the referee to retrieve his mouthguard. The punches sent the American staggering against the ropes, but Spence went on to produce his best work, causing Ugas’ right eye to swell significantly as the rounds passed by. Ultimately the injury led the official to call a stop to the action in the 10th round, ensuring a TKO victory for Spence Jr, the southpaw thus remaining unbeaten (28-0, 22 KOs) as he targets a unification clash with Terence Crawford.
Re-live round-by-round updates from Errol Spence Jr vs Yordenis Ugas this evening.
Benn vs Van Heerden
Cullen vs Belujsky – Round 1
Belujsky comes forward and takes the centre of the ring. The pair trade jabs.
An aggressive combination sees the Slovak miss with a couple of shots but land a hard right hook up top.
Cullen finds a home for a left hook to the body.
Another good hook upstairs from Belujsky. A strong first round for him.
Benn vs Van Heerden
Lancashire fighter Cullen, 28, has a professional recoord of 20-3-1 (9 knockouts).
Slovakia’s Belujsky, meanwhile, is 12-3-1 (8 KOs) at 26 years old.
Benn vs Van Heerden
The main card begins with a light-heavyweight match-up between Jack Cullen and Vladimir Belujsky!
Benn vs Van Heerden
Here’s a quick look at the preliminary results from this evening’s card:
James Metcalf def. Evgenii Vazem via fifth-round TKO
Luke Evans and Miguel Cesario Antin fight to draw (56-56)
Benn vs Van Heerden
“I believe I’m ready for a world title now,” said Benn this week. “I’m ready for the top dogs now. The proof is in the pudding, it’s not like I’m going to beat a domestic fighter and going, ‘Yeah, I’m world level.’
“It’s the form that I’m beating Formella more convincingly than Shawn Porter, Samuel Vargas more convincingly than Vergil Ortiz and Amir Khan, Adrian Granados more convincingly than Errol Spence.
“I have come a long way from being a raw novice but I am where I am. People are having a moan about Van Heerden, he was good enough for Ennis in his 26th fight but he’s not good enough for my 21st?
“It’s like a back handed compliment because they’re unintentionally putting me up there with those fighters but saying I’m too good to be fighting them.”
Conor Benn: I’m ready to challenge for a world title now
Benn is looking to move to 21-0 at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday when he takes on Chris van Heerden
Benn vs Van Heerden
Full card
Conor Benn vs Chris van Heerden
Chris Billam-Smith vs Tommy McCarthy
Alycia Baumgardner vs Edith Soledad Matthysse
Jordan Thompson vs Mariano Angel Gudino
Thomas Whittaker-Hart vs Ben Ridings
Campbell Hatton vs Ezequiel Gregores
Jack Cullen vs Vladimir Belujsky
Luke Evans vs Miguel Cesario Antin
James Metcalf vs Evgenii Vazem
Benn vs Van Heerden
Conor Benn will put his unbeaten record and WBA Continental welterweight title on the line tonight, as the Briton takes on South Africa’s Chris van Heerden.
The pair will main event at the AO Arena in Manchester as Benn, son of boxing icon Nigel, attempts to move closer to a marquee match-up at 147lbs. Last time out, the 25-year-old Benn stopped Chris Algieri in the fourth round in November, improving his record to 20-0 (13 knockouts). Van Heerden, meanwhile, fought to a No Contest against Jaron Ennis due to a cut to the South African’s head from an accidental headbutt. That bout took place in December 2020, so the 32-year-old Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) will likely have to overcome some ring rust as well as hostile fans if he is to beat Benn.
Benn said this week: “I believe I’m ready for a world title now. I’m ready for the top dogs now. The proof is in the pudding, it’s not like I’m going to beat a domestic fighter and going, ‘Yeah, I’m world level.’”
Conor Benn vs Chris van Heerden card: All fights tonight
All you need to know about the main event and undercard
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