Errol Spence grateful not to be blind

Errol Spence Jr. is leaving his previously detached retina in the past.

The brutal injury was previously uncovered during a pre-fight medical examination, which forced the unbeaten, unified welterweight champion out of a planned superfight with now-retired eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) last August in Las Vegas.

It is well-known that the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s eye examinations are some of the more extensive in sports, which proved to be vital in discovering the injury. And for that, Spence is appreciative that the wound did not derail his career.

“I don’t regret it at all,” said Spence, who last fought in a December 2020 points triumph over Danny Garcia. “Everything happens for a reason. If I would’ve fought him, I probably would have been blind in my eye and lost my career. Everything happens for a reason. I just got to take the punches and roll with it.”

Yordenis Ugas immediately stepped up to square off against Pacquiao, who scored the most significant win of his career in a 12-round unanimous decision win. Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) defended his WBA “super” welterweight title for the first time after Pacquiao was stripped of the title due to inactivity. Now the Cuban has a chance to add two belts to his collection against Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) on an April 16 Showtime Pay-Per-View event from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, located just 23 miles outside of Spence’s hometown of Desoto.

The 2012 Olympian has put the disappointment of losing out on a blockbuster event against Pacquiao in the rearview. His focus is on winning another title and moving one step closer to a shot at the undisputed 147-pound crown.

“I’ve been looking forward [to this fight] since I dropped out of the Pacquiao fight,” added Spence. “I knew I’d be looking at either Pacquiao or Ugas. It’s Ugas now.”