CEBU CITY ? For more than a decade, boxing match-ups involving Filipino and Mexican fighters have produced explosive, fan-friendly spectacles. Visiting boxers Mario ?Rocky? Meraz (20W-3L,16KO?s) and Hugo ?Olympico? Partida (21-W4L-2D,16KO?s) vowed that their fights against the Pagara brothers this Saturday will not be an exception.
They told the members of the Cebu sports media and the fans to ?Expect a war? during a press conference held Wednesday at the Rajah Park Hotel.
?I have prepared for three months,? Meraz said, ?I am very well prepared and hungry for a win.?
Meraz will face Jason ?El Ni?o? Pagara (33W-2L, 20KO?s) of the ALA gym for the WBO International junior welterweight title in the main event of the card billed as ?FISTS OF THE FUTURE? at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
?Pagara is a strong opponent, I will not look for a knockout, but if the opportunity comes, the knockout will come.? He stressed.
Partida on the other hand will fight Jason?s unbeaten younger brother, ?Prince? Albert Pagara (20-0,14KO?s) for the vacant IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight title.
?I did not join the Olympics,? Partida said, ?I got my ring name from winning boxing contests in my country called ?Olympiada?. (Albert) Pagara is young while I am experienced.?
Antonio Lozada Castillo of Team Meraz said that they come from the gym Baja Boxing, and they have produced four world titlists, names like Humberto Sotto.Team Partida?s Agustin Vasquez de la Cruz stated that they train in Gymnasio Mexico, which has 70-80 fighters, ten pros, two have gold belts and in his opinion, the most advanced gym in their country.
PHOTOS BY MARY JANE CATRIZ - Top - Mario Meraz (left) and Hugo Partida
Team Partida?s Agustin Vasquez de la Cruz, Hugo Partida, Mario Meraz, Team Meraz' Antonio Lozada Castillo and interpreter Ramon Esca?o
Below - The dignified and scholarly looking Mario "Rocky" Meraz
Hugo 'Olympico' Partida
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