On Saturday's big show in Las Vegas, former WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas (pictured) and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios will go toe-to-toe for the interim WBC welterweight title. The show is headlined by Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's world super middleweight title defense against world junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo. Ugas (27-5) has not fought since a punishing loss to Errol Spence in an April 2022 unification bout. Barrios (27-2) lost back-to-back fights to Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Keith Thurman in 2021-2022 but came back with a win over gatekeeper Jovanie Santiago in February. Here is what Ugas and Barrios had to say at the final press conference on Wednesday:

 

YORDENIS UGAS

 

“If there's one thing I'm not lacking, it's experience. I've been fighting against the best welterweights in the world for the past seven years, and this Saturday the world is going to see how I will reap the benefits of my experience.

 

“I have nothing but respect for every single Mexican fighter. I tip my hat to them, and I know that Barrios is going to be a really tough opponent. He's going to come at it really strong.”

 

MARIO BARRIOS

 

“These next few years are going to be my prime years and I'm trying to get as much accomplished as possible. I feel like I can definitely make that happen here in Las Vegas.

 

“I have a tall frame, so getting down to 140 pounds was becoming very difficult.  The welterweight division is where I'm going to be able to accomplish the most, and I'm just excited for these next few years.

 

“Ugas is a great fighter. He's been in there with some of the best welterweights. He's one of the few to hand the great Manny Pacquiao a defeat. Even when he fought Errol Spence Jr. before the eye injury, he was in that fight. He was making it very difficult, so we know Ugas is bringing a lot to the table.”