Yordenis Ugás Open to a Fight with Miguel Díaz-Canel: "It Would Be the Fight of My Life"

The Cuban professional boxing champion, Yordenis Ugás, recently reacted on social media to a follower's suggestion that he have a boxing match with Miguel Díaz-Canel, whom Ugás accuses of being an "illegitimate" leader. "It would be the fight of my life," commented the boxer who claimed the welterweight title from the World Boxing Association (WBA) in August 2021. He dedicated his title and historic victory against the legendary Manny Pacquiao to the protesters who flooded the streets of Cuban towns and cities on July 11 of that year (11J).

Ugás's response was prompted by one of his tweets condemning the fraudulent "inauguration" of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, attended by Díaz-Canel, Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega, and representatives from Russia and Iran, amidst widespread international condemnation. "This piece of trash, Canel, is the only president who will be there, surely alongside Ortega. An illegitimate supporting another illegitimate. God has to give me life and health, and to all of you who desire the same, to witness this scum facing a firing squad condemned by a Cuban court," expressed the boxer on his X account.

Ugás's disdain for the puppet of the Castro regime, whom he holds accountable for human rights violations and repression in Cuba, led him to demand justice for the crimes of the dictatorship. He expressed his wish to see Díaz-Canel pay with his life for the harm he has caused, which ranges from the mass exodus of Cubans, the deaths of many during perilous journeys and at the hands of oppressors, to the thousands of political prisoners held in jails.

His words were answered by an X user identified as @MAOOFFL, who proposed a different scenario to fulfill his thirst for justice. "Or better yet, locked in a ring with you, I like that idea more. I'll be the first in the audience! Patria y Vida!" said the follower, to which Ugás replied, "It would be the fight of my life."

A prominent figure in the fight against the dictatorship, Ugás has emerged as one of the most articulate voices expressing the national plight of Cubans. His clear and direct discourse, steeped in profound ethical values and humanity, has made him a beloved figure among exiles and his compatriots on the island.

"I am a fighter not only inside the ring but also outside, I fight for the freedom of my people. That is the most important thing for me," declared Ugás before the match against Pacquiao. This message has consistently accompanied him throughout his professional career and whenever he raises his voice as a member of the Cuban civil society.