Yordenis Ugas batters Mike Dallas Jr. as the corner stops the bout

At 33 years old, Yordenis Ugas is running out of time for another shot at a world title, but he took a step closer after defeating Mike Dallas Jr.

Yordenis Ugas was a hot young prospect in his youth, but at 33 years old and with four losses on his record, he needed to take Mike Dallas Jr. out on Feb. 1 if he ever wanted another shot at a title. He did just that on a fun night of boxing from PBC on Fox Sports 1.

As an amateur, Ugas won the world championships and a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, as a professional, Ugas’s talents haven’t transferred as expected. His last loss against Shawn Porter in 2019 was close, but it went down as another defeat on his record.

Dallas is a C-caliber boxer who lost by knockout twice before meeting Ugas. A loss to Dallas would have likely meant the end of Ugas’s career, but he proved that he still has plenty of talent left to bother the top welterweights.

Ugas came out in round 1 throwing bombs. He loaded up on every shot and nailed Dallas with several of them. Dallas looked like a punching bag and didn’t take Ugas’s shots well. He did get hit with an accidental low blow and took a minute to shake it off. Dallas continued to get rocked by Ugas’s right cross down the stretch.

Ugas dominated throughout the night, but his fists went low on Dallas for a second time in round 3. Dallas turned around and cringed in pain. When the fighting resumed, Ugas and Dallas exchanged right hands. Ugas would land it several more times before the bell.

Dallas grew more brazen in round 5. He leaped at Ugas several times with right crosses. Some of them landed, but many were blocked. Ugas appeared to take the round off. He closed the round well but fought at a measured pace. Dallas hit the canvas at the bell after what seemed to be a Ugas push.

Dallas fell into a pattern of trying to be aggressive and score early in rounds, just to be outboxed towards the end. That model repeated itself through round 7.

Dallas won most of round 7. He was active and landed his best punch of the fight when he snuck in a right cross, but Ugas countered with one of his own that halted Dallas’s surge. Ugas stole the round by battering Dallas in the remaining seconds.

After the round, Dallas’s corner decided that they had seen enough and threw in the towel. Ugas got the win in a bout that he dominated from bell to bell.

Ugas is currently rated as the sixth-best welterweight in the world by Boxrec.com. He likely won’t fight in a title bout next, but his win keeps him in the mix with the best welterweights in the world. He’s not a power puncher, but he looked active and confident. Ugas provided a fan-friendly contest that will help market him for a bigger fight soon.