The renowned Cuban boxer, Yordenis Ugás, is experiencing a significant chapter in his personal life after fulfilling a long-held dream of bringing his mother to the United States. This achievement is granting him moments of profound joy, such as the one he shared on social media this Monday. "I am incredibly happy and grateful. We have achieved everything we set out to do, thanks to God. My perspective has shifted a lot recently: no longer do we ask God for whims, to be the best in the world, or to win, win, win. Now, the only thing I ask from God is to grant my dear Milagros health and life, and to reclaim some of the lost time. May God always bless her," Ugás expressed in a heartfelt post on X.
His touching words were accompanied by a video showing the boxer dancing with his mother in the living room of his Miami apartment, singing alongside her, and displaying the bond and affection between mother and son. At the beginning of November, Ugás was able to realize his dream of having his mother live with him in the U.S. "It's been such a huge blessing, yet so surreal, that I'm still processing it and can't quite believe it," he admitted in a video shared on his Facebook page.
The pugilist recounted how he spent the first night with his mother in the U.S. sleeping together because the other rooms in his apartment were occupied by two cousins who also arrived, joking that he might need to buy a more spacious place as there's not enough room for everyone anymore. Additionally, Ugás revealed that he purchased an apartment overlooking the sea years ago specifically for his mother, who he describes as a "daughter of Yemayá." After 14 years of waiting, Ugás's sole wish now is to see his mother healthy and content, which is evident on his social media platforms.
In a recent Instagram video, the Cuban boxer was seen driving with his mother in the passenger seat, taking the opportunity to share words of love and admiration: "Everything I am, and hope to be, I owe to my mother… Thanks to her prayers, her love, and support since I was a child."
In April 2022, Milagros Hernández Hechavarría defended her son against the Cuban television's criticism following his defeat by American boxer Errol Spence. Milagros addressed the TV show Con Filo, where the presenter attempted to belittle Ugás, even sharing memes mocking his appearance post-fight (Ugás suffered significant eye damage) and comparing him to members of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961.
Through a comprehensive post on her Facebook wall, she denounced the injustices her son faced in Cuba at the hands of sports authorities. "My boy was the best, captain of the team. Twice they left teammates behind. They threw him out like a dog. He wasn't deemed reliable, though they never told him. I cried, I fought. His father Chichi, my late partner, met with Cristian (Jiménez) and José Ramón Fernández. In a trial, MIND YOU, against a world champion, we won. It hurt my boy a lot. I told him: 'Go back and fight,'" she recounted.
She also touched on the affection the Cuban people have for the athlete and activist; a sentiment that motivated him to continue boxing, achieve his athletic goals, leave his homeland where he was a target of sports authorities' capriciousness, and become a figure of the Cuban civil society advocating for rights, freedoms, and an end to the dictatorship in Cuba.