NONITO Donaire Jr. has fought some of best boxers in his 14-year career, which gives him a real gauge on who has it and who doesn?t.
After a sparring session with unbeaten Albert Pagara last Saturday at the ALA Boxing Gym, the 32-year-old former five-division world champion firmly believes that the 21-year-old super bantamweight prospect has a huge future ahead of him.
?Albert is an up-and-comer. We sparred last Saturday and he?s a good kid. He knows how to look for openings, moves well and has power,? Donaire Jr. said. ?He just has to work hard and continue fighting the right fights especially since he?s still young and is on a good weight division. So he has a bigger chance to be out there. With Michael (Aldeguer) and ALA Promotions being able to promote in the States, they?re going to make a name for themselves and a chance for him to reach the limelight.?
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Pagara will be tested if he indeed is the real deal when he faces hard-hitting Mexican Rodolfo Hernandez in one of the featured bouts of Pinoy Pride 30 ? ?D-Day? alongside Donaire Jr. and World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight king Donnie Nietes on March 28 at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila.
Donaire Jr. returns to the ring against Brazilian William Prado for the North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight crown, while Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion, defends his crown against Mexican challenger Gilberto Parra.
?He hit me, that?s why I?m saying he?s strong. He?s very good. In my experience, that I?ve seen everything, then I can assess the level of a fighter. Albert, he has a big future. He just needs the proper way of training, discipline and of course handling. And I know the ALA Promotions and the ALA staff, the coaches, they made these kids so just stay on the right path with the right people and the right coaches,? said Donaire Jr.
Pagara, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Inter-Continental super bantamweight titleholder, boasts an impressive slate of 22-0 with 15 knockouts and has won back-to-back fights against Mexicans ? a first round stoppage of Hugo Partida and a one-sided unanimous verdict over experienced Raul Hirales.
