ARLINGTON, Texas – The night of August 21 wouldn’t necessarily have been significant for Errol Spence Jr. because his showdown with Manny Pacquiao would’ve represented a career-defining fight.

A much younger Spence saw that pay-per-view opportunity more as a moment to take the proverbial torch from an elite welterweight who helped define a glorious generation in boxing. Pacquiao was 42 when he was scheduled to face Spence eight months ago, but he beat one of Spence’s contemporaries, Keith Thurman, by split decision in his previous fight two years earlier.

Spence was, however, due to make a career-high payday for that high-profile fight against Pacquiao. A victory should’ve moved the 2012 U.S. Olympian into position to finally fight unbeaten WBO welterweight champ Terence Crawford for full supremacy in the 147-pound division as well.

A torn retina in his left eye eliminated Spence from that FOX Sports Pay-Per-View main event just 11 days before he was slated to step in the ring with the Filipino legend at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Yordenis Ugas replaced Spence on short notice and upset Pacquiao by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder to win the WBA “super” welterweight title.

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs), a senator in his homeland, retired following that loss to focus on the upcoming presidential election in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Spence, 32, and Ugas, 35, are set to fight Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, home of Spence’s beloved Dallas Cowboys, in a title unification fight for Spence’s IBF and WBC belts and Ugas’ WBA crown.

Spence seemed completely relaxed Wednesday night during an open outdoor workout at Texas Live!, an entertainment complex near AT&T Stadium.

“Nothing, man,” Spence replied when asked in the ring if anything about Ugas concerns him. “I’m a hundred-percent healthy. I’m a hundred-percent focused. I done dedicated myself this whole camp, even before camp. Man, I’m just hungry. I’m ready to put on a great show. It’s great. My name’s not Manny Pacquiao. He was a lot older. You know what I’m saying? That was the passing of the torch for me, but Ugas got it. But I’m gonna get redemption come Saturday night.”

The left-handed Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), of nearby DeSoto, Texas, is listed by Caesars Sportsbook as a 6-1 favorite to beat Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs), a Las Vegas resident who defected from Cuba in 2010. Their 12-round, 147-pound championship match will headline a four-fight Showtime Pay-Per-View event scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET ($74.95).

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.