Yordenis Ugas Wins TSS’s 2016 Comeback of the Year

Yordenis Ugas Wins TSS’s 2016 Comeback of the Year — Cuba’s hard working Yordenis Ugas has been named The Sweet Science’s Comeback Fighter of the Year for 2016 after a year that saw him go 2-0 following a layoff of more than two years.

Ugas showed flashes of his talent as he climbed the rankings at super welterweight, going 15-1 and creating a buzz and some upward trajectory to his career as he entered calendar year 2014. For Ugas, that all came to an end with back to back losses to undefeated prospects Emmanuel Robles (9-0-1) and Amir Imam (13-0).

What followed for Ugas was 28 months of soul searching before he returned as a major underdog in August of 2016 to face undefeated Jamal James (20-0) on a Premier Boxing Champions broadcast set for ESPN. James was considered a win or two away from earning a title shot but Ugas exposed him as not ready for prime time just yet.

Ugas would be back in the ring less than two months later, this time providing the next test for undefeated 14-0 Bryant Perrella. Ugas had Perrella on the canvas twice before finishing him off with a flurry of punches in the fourth round.

This fight was also a PBC event. It aired on FOX Sports 1. Ugas’ comeback was not hurt by the fact that he pulled off two big wins on events that were seen on television in the United States.

Yordenis Ugas Wins TSS’s 2016 Comeback of the Year

In boxing, most “comebacks” follow a formula where the fighter chooses to return against less than sterling competition in order to get back on the winning track. After netting a win or stringing together a streak most fighters then look for a tough fight with a bigger payoff. It is rare to see a talented fighter return and dive in to difficult fights right away.

Ugas took on two undefeated fighters who were considered upwardly mobile in the rankings and he stopped their rising stars and re-inserted himself back into the ranks of the up and coming contenders, returning back to where he was at the start of 2014. For not following that standard formula or choosing the easy way in his 2016 return, Yordenis Ugas is your 2016 TSS Comeback Fighter of the Year.

Yordenis Ugas Wins TSS’s 2016 Comeback of the Year / Check out the 2016 Comeback Fighter of the Year video at The Boxing Channel.