DUBAI ? It took exactly two minutes for ?Prince? Albert Pagara to get the job done.
The brash-but-promising fighter made a good impression in his first overseas fight, dropping Mexican Jesus Rios twice to score a first round knockout victory late Friday in Pinoy Pride 32: Duel in Dubai 2 held in front of a predominantly Filipino crowd at the World Trade Centre here.
Pagara wasted little time extending his ring record to a perfect 24-0 when he sent Rios to the canvass with a 1-2-3 combination before delivering a series of blows that left the overweight Mexican hanging on the ropes and forced referee Bruce McTavish to call it a night.
Rios, who entered the fight almost two pounds overweight, had to be treated by medical personnel for about 10 minutes while Pagara earned the adulation of fans who treated him like a rock star.
?Di ko inasahan na mapapatumba ko siya kaagad,? said Pagara, who had promised a knockout but refused to predict which round during the pre-fight press conference the other day. ?Nakita ko yung opening kung san makakapasok yung kamay ko kaya tinira ko na.?
The 21-year-old native of Maasin, Leyte also formalized his inclusion in ALA Promotions? highly-anticipated US card on Oct. 17 at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California where he hopes to show his skills and swagger in front of a bigger market.
While pleased with the performance, ALA boss Michael Aldeguer is keeping a cautious outlook.
?We?re happy with his performance but at the same time you want the kid to learn more,? Aldeguer said. ?He?s got a lot of attitude but he needs to get the right nurturing and the right confidence.?
His older brother Jason, with blood dripping above his left eye, was far from impressive but still won via technical decision over Ramiro Alcaraz of Mexico when the fight was halted after the eighth round of a scheduled 10 upon the advise of doctors.
Judges scored the bout 77-73, 76-74, 78-72 in Jason?s favor in the bout that saw Alcaraz being deducted two points for an accidental headbutt in the first round and for throwing punches after the bell rang in the sixth.
Jason came away with his ninth straight win, raising his record to 36-2.
Jimrex Jaca survived a flurry of punches by Pablo Montiel in the fourth round but managed to produce an eight-round unanimous decision.
A local boy, sort of, was also victorious as Larry Abarra, a 28-year-old native of Olongapo who has been based here for two years, needed 54 seconds to beat Tony Arema with a 1-2 combo.
