Yordenis Ugás: The Sole Boxer to Defeat Both Crawford and Manny Pacquiao

A fan recently sent Yordenis Ugás an intriguing image generated through artificial intelligence. The image highlighted a little-known fact: the Cuban boxer stands alone as the only fighter to have defeated both Terence Crawford and Manny Pacquiao. Proud of this unique achievement, Ugás shared the image on his Facebook profile, stating, "Very proud. This is history."

A Singular Feat

In 2007, at the 1st Pan American Qualifier in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Ugás outperformed a young Terence Crawford in the semifinals, securing a 27-10 victory under the computerized scoring system of that era. His victory was no fluke; Ugás was already a formidable force in amateur boxing, boasting titles such as the 2005 AIBA World Champion, gold at the 2007 Pan American Games, and an Olympic bronze medal in Beijing 2008.

Fourteen years later, in the professional arena, Ugás faced off against the legendary Manny Pacquiao on August 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. On that memorable night, the 35-year-old Cuban dazzled with his technical, intelligent boxing and devastating counterattacks. With scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113, Ugás triumphed over the Filipino by unanimous decision, retaining the WBA welterweight super championship.

Expressing his gratitude, Ugás remarked, "Thanks to Manny Pacquiao for the opportunity to share the ring with him. He remains one of the greatest fighters in history," reflecting his emotion after the victory.

An Exclusive Record

The statistics underscore the distinctiveness of Ugás's accomplishment. Throughout his professional career, Pacquiao suffered defeats to eight fighters: Rustico Torrecampo, Medgoen Singsurat, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Márquez, Timothy Bradley, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jeff Horn, and Yordenis Ugás. However, none of these other seven managed to best Terence Crawford, not even in amateur competition.

A stark contrast is Jeff Horn, who, after defeating Pacquiao in 2017, was decisively beaten by Crawford a year later by TKO. This cements Ugás's status as the sole boxer to have conquered both: the American in amateur boxing and the Filipino in the professional ranks.

Crawford vs. Canelo

Ugás's name resurfaces in sports headlines as Terence Crawford has recently defeated Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. In a masterful display, Crawford secured a unanimous decision victory (116-112, 115-113, 115-113), becoming an undisputed champion in three divisions and maintaining his undefeated record.

The comparison is inevitable: the man who just made history by defeating Canelo also experienced defeat in his amateur days against a Cuban who, years later, would topple the Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao in the professional realm.

Cuban Pride in Exile

For Yordenis Ugás, who, like many Cuban athletes, lives in exile, this achievement transcends personal glory: it symbolizes what Cuba could have achieved with a sports system free from political constraints. While Crawford remains unbeaten in professional boxing and Pacquiao retired as one of the all-time greats, Ugás is etched in history as the only one to have defeated both in different boxing stages.

"This is history," Ugás wrote, and he is not mistaken. No other boxer in the world shares this honor.