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Philippines, 23 Feb 2026 |
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MASAM SPORTS 71: ALBERT PAGARA PREPARES FOR A RING COMEBACK By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Mon, 22 Aug 2022  "Prince” Albert Pagara, the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) intercontinental super bantamweight champion, revived his quest for a world title with a new manager Paul Best, a Scottish boxing benefactor based in Cebu. Best owned a new boxing gym in Tayud, Liloan, Cebu. The boxing gym is called “Pagara Boxing Gym” which opened last August 18, 2022, at the Jimsville Executive Homes as reported by CDN Digital. Best and Pagara have the same interests. While Best acts as Pagara's new manager, the former international champ will be trained by Edmund Villamor. Villamor has been Pagara's trainer at the defunct ALA Boxing Gym, then when he was a rising star in Philippine boxing and was once a favorite to become the Aldeguer stable's future world boxing champion. Villamor is also the trainer of former four-division world champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino boxing world champion. CDN Digital added that Pagara said that he plans to make a ring comeback at the lightweight division. “I will fight in the 135 lbs division in the future. It will just be in the Philippines,” said Pagara who wants to return to the ring next month in a non-title bout after two years of inactivity. The 28-year-old Pagara's last fight was on December 18, 2020 when he scored a victory over Virgil Puton via unanimous decision in the under card of Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) Kumbati boxing card at the IPI compound in Mandaue City. Pagara currently owns a record of 33 wins with 23 knockouts and one defeat. His only loss was dealt by Mexican warrior Cesar Juarez by an eighth round knockout in the WBO intercontinental super bantamweight championship in San Mateo, California on July 9, 2016. Pagara since then redeemed himself and amassed six straight wins and regained the WBO intercontinental super bantamweight title by stopping Ghanaian Laryea Gabriel Odoiby third round TKO on June 9, 2018 at Maasin City Gym, Maasin, Southern Leyte “I am grateful to my manager Paul Best because he is the one who really helped in building the gym for me and coach Edmund Villamor for training me again,” Pagara told CDN. Best explained he wanted to help Pagara and put up a boxing gym in order to motivate the boxer and trainer Villamor to mold him back to his usual championship form. “It’s to motivate him and with coach Edmund get him back in the ring, and, of course, go for world titles. Currently we are in touch with some promoters hoping for a fight before the end of the year,” said Best Best has been living in Cebu for 14 years in Liloan with his wife and two children. He met Pagara together with some friends and shared the same passion for boxing and was realized after inaugurating their boxing gym. “It’s primarily to give Albert a place to train close to where he lives but as time has passed now it is to provide a place for everyone to train and hopefully discover and develop future champions with coach Edmund Villamor,” said Best. Best also wants develop young fighters and organize his own boxing team in the following months. Photo shows Albert Pagara (right), coach Edmund Villamor (left) and his new manager Paul Best (center) at the Pagara Boxing Gym. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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