MANNY PACQUIAO’S return fight has suffered a last-minute blow following a major change to the undercard.
Pacquiao, 46, is scheduled to take on Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title tonight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao’s return fight has suffered a last-minute blowEthan Miller/Getty Images
Pacquiao is set to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title tonightAP Photo/John Locher
Angel Fierro (R) was rushed to hospital and sadly had to pull out of his rematch with Isaac Cruz (L)Melina Pizano/Getty Images
However, the fight card has been thrown into disarray following a very unfortunate incident.
Angel Fierro was rushed to hospital and sadly had to pull out of his rematch with Isaac Cruz.
Fierro, 26, and Cruz, 27, were set to face off in a super lightweight clash following the latter’s victory in February.
However, Fierro was deemed unfit after being taken to hospital due to health issues relating to his weight cut.
Fierro’s trainer Robert Garcia confirmed the unfortunate news by stating it would be “too dangerous” to continue cutting weight and insisted he has a responsibility to protect his fighter’s health.
Garcia tweeted: “I want to start off by apologizing to all the fans that made the trip to Vegas, to Pitbull and his team and everyone involved in the fight.
“I made the decision this morning to not allow my fighter Angel Fierro to cut anymore weight and instructed our team to take him to the hospital.
“I have a responsibility to not only prepare my fighter to fight, but also to keep him safe.
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“The last few lbs were going to be too dangerous for him to cut and I made the decision to pull him out. Again we apologize to everyone involved.”
Omar Salcido, who is scheduled to face Brian Gallegos on the same card, is said to be the frontrunner to replace Fierro in the fight against Cruz.
Salcido’s trainer Jose Benavidez Sr confirmed they are “ready” to step up to the plate after the boxing ace successfully made the 140lbs super lightweight limit
Benavidez Sr told Boxing Scene: “It’s a big opportunity. We’re ready. We’re excited.
“We’re just waiting on them [Premier Boxing Champions] to get it done.”
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