Pacquiao will still fight on 21 August (Picture: Getty)

Manny Pacquiao insists he still has a very tough challenge ahead of him in Yordenis Ugas after the Cuban was brought into replace the injured Errol Spence Jr.

Pacquiao was set to challenge IBF and WBC welterweight champion Spence on 21 August in one of the biggest fights of the year.

Spence however was forced to pull out on Tuesday after an eye injury was detected during a pre-fight medical examination. The Texan will now undergo surgery to repair the torn retina this week.

The card will go ahead as planned however with WBA (Super) champion Ugas stepping in to take on the Filipino legend.

Pacquiao won the WBA title in July 2019 after a thrilling victory over Keith Thurman but was eventually made ‘champion in recess’ due to inactivity with Ugas upgraded to the governing body’s ‘Super’ champion at the start of the year.

Pacquiao still wants the Spence fight (Picture: Getty)

The 42-year-old now has the chance to reclaim the belt but insists he is not taking Ugas lightly.

‘I still consider it a good fight, a hard fight. I will not be taking this fight lightly. I have to make sure that I’m not overconfident,’ Pacquiao told TMZ Sports.