Errol Spence Jr. has been forced to withdraw from his Aug. 21 fight with Manny Pacquiao due to a retinal tear in his left eye. Organizers announced the withdrawal on Tuesday.
“Spence discovered that he had a torn retina during a pre-fight medical examination by the NV State Athletic Commission in Las Vegas on Monday,” organizers said on Twitter. “He flew back home to Dallas, TX on Tuesday and will have surgery to repair the tear on Wednesday.”
“I was excited about the fight and the event,” Spence said in a news release. “Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery on it ASAP and that there was no way I could fight with my eye in that condition.”
The welterweight champion returned him to Dallas and will have surgery to repair the tear on Wednesday. He is expected to make a full recovery and return to the ring. He is the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight world champion with a 27-0 record.
Pacquiao showed concern for his fellow boxer and prayed for Spence to make a full recovery.
“I ask everyone to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery for Errol Spence Jr,” Pacquiao said. “Thank God his physical examination discovered his eye condition before he suffered any further damage.”
While Spence will no longer be able to compete at the event, Yordenis Ugas has agreed to take his place and fight Pacquiao. Ugas won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and recently won the vacant WBA Welterweight title.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight,” said Ugas. “I’ve been in camp working hard with my coach Ismael Salas, and I know together we will come up with a masterful game plan to combat anything Manny will bring to the ring.”
