Ugas' Trainer: Errol Spence 'Not The Same Fighter' That Fought With Shawn Porter
BY
KEITH IDEC
Published Wed Mar 30, 2022, 06:28 PM EDT
Ismael Salas surprisingly stated Wednesday that he doesn’t think the same Errol Spence Jr. that beat Shawn Porter 2½ years ago still exists.
Yordenis Ugas’ trainer bluntly told Premier Boxing Champions’ Ray Flores at his gym in Las Vegas that Spence’s car accident in October 2019 noticeably changed the undefeated southpaw for the worse. Spence defeated Danny Garcia convincingly in their 12-round fight nearly 14 months later, but Salas saw a diminished Spence in that fight for his IBF and WBC welterweight titles at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Spence has since undergone surgery to repair a torn left retina, which forced him to withdraw on short notice from his showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Ugas replaced Spence on 11 days’ notice and upset Pacquiao by unanimous decision August 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The 32-year-old Spence will end a 16-month layoff when he squares off against Ugas in their 12-round, 147-pound title unification fight April 16 at AT&T Stadium. Salas hopes Spence resembles the best version of himself, yet he isn’t optimistic.
“I can tell you one thing very clear,” Salas told Flores during Ugas’ open workout. “This is no secret to anyone. I saw the Errol Spence [that] fought with Shawn Porter. And I saw the Errol Spence [that] fought with Danny Garcia. So, in this two between, they have one situation – the accident. The same guy, Errol Spence, [that] fought with Shawn Porter, it was not the same guy [that] fought with Danny Garcia. … He beat Danny Garcia, but he has [started to lose] something.”
Flores followed up by asking Salas if he feels Spence isn’t the same fighter as the man who dropped Porter and beat him by split decision in September 2019 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
“He’s not the same fighter,” Salas replied.
Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), of DeSoto, Texas, is still listed by most sportsbooks as a 4-1 favorite against the Cuban-born Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) two weeks in advance of their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event. The 2012 U.S. Olympian contends that he has felt great in sparring sessions since he returned to full contact in trainer Derrick James’ gym in mid-January.
“I really like pray to get the best of him,” Salas said. “Number one, because it will be a great show. And it’s a pay-per-view, it’s a big fight in the year. And if he’s in tip-top condition, Ugas will give him a hell of a fight.”