Philippines, 16 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Is Pagara ripe (for the bigtime) like Duterte?


PhilBoxing.com




THAT was a crispy knockout delivered by Jason Pagara in Davao City on Saturday night. In fact, the sensational stoppage was followed by an announcement that the winner would next lead a Pinoy Pride card in San Diego, California in May.

However, it might help if Pagara?s handlers would bother to look back to see if the victory didn?t have shades of past hollow wins by the one-time bright hope but now lamented Ray Boom Boom Bautista.

Bautista, who was signed up by Golden Boy Promotions to lead a Filipino team against select Mexican fighters for a celebrated World Cup event in Sacramento, California in 2007, was selectively pushed up.

Brandishing a 16-0 card, the youthful Boom Boom faced Daniel Ponce de Leon, whom the former pride of the Ala Stable must?ve thought would be easy as most of his past opponents.

**

Result: Boom Boom, at a princely peak, got the shock of his young career. He openly took a horse-kick shot to the chin, was floored blind late in the first round. In the next round, Bautista, instead of size up the situation, charged ignorantly, and was knocked out cold.

In Davao on Saturday, the name of the Mexican?Cesar ?El Dolar? Chavez?whom Pagara would go on to crush in two rounds, rang proudly, thanks to the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez, one of the greatest Mexican ring warriors.

However, like most of Bautista?s past poor opponents, the Chavez whom Pagara dusted off in less than two rounds, was clearly a patsy. In fact, fight publicists for the Pinoy Pride card could not bother to hide the fact that the El Dolar label was infamously used on Chavez because ?he loves to go up and down like the dollar.?

Please take note too that the matchmaker who delivered the hapless Mexican trial horse for Pagara was the same one who had arranged practically all of Boom Boom Bautista?s easy rides prior to his cruel end in Sacramento in 2007.

**

There was no doubt the Pinoy Pride bouts, all won by Filipino entries, created quite a stir at ringside in peaceful Davao City.
But what truly intrigued sportsman Manny Pinol, who worked the fights with Bill Velasco for world television, was the consensus submitted by ringside notables about the respected Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City.

Pinol said ?boxing people, like Ronnie Nathanielsz and Ed Tolentino, who covered the bouts for ABS-CBN, former agriculture secretary Sonny Dominguez, Manila-based sportswriters Beth Celis, Nick Giongco, Roy Luarca, Abac Cordero, veteran international referee Bruce McTavish, were supporters and believers of the tough-talking and incorruptible Mayor of Davao City.?

?They were unanimous in their belief that Mayor Duterte is the kind of leader the Philippines needs today,? Pinol said.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Jonny Mansour Takes on William King as One Half of a Double Main Event at Frontwave Arena’s SD Fight Night: Family Business on Saturday, April 18, 2026
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Rising Contender Jalen “Skywalker” Walker Signs with Wise Owl Boxing
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.