CESAR Juarez believes that he?s not a stepping stone that will be used to pad the record of an up-and-coming young fighter to help bring him up to the next level.
Juarez feels that it?s the other way around and the unbeaten 22-year-old Albert Pagara is his ticket to another shot at World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight titleholder Nonito Donaire Jr.
?This is a very important fight for me. I have prepared mentally, physically and emotionally. I have trained really hard for this. I?m ready to fight. I have big goals,? Juarez said in yesterday?s final press conference for Pinoy Pride 37 – ?Fists of the Future? show at the San Mateo Events Center on Sunday (PHL time) in San Mateo, California.
?I want a rematch with Nonito Donaire. I want to prove that I can do it. I want that rematch.?
The 24-year-old Juarez fought Donaire Jr. for the vacant WBO super bantamweight belt back in December in Puerto Rico. He gave Donaire Jr. His money?s worth but lost by unanimous decision in a ?Fight of the Year? candidate.
?I consider him a good fighter but not as experienced as Nonito Donaire,? said Juarez of Albert.
Juarez challenges WBO No. 2 and The Ring No. 7 ranked Albert for the latter?s WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title.
Though being underestimated by Juarez as not within his level, Albert is positive that he?s indeed at his level or even a notch above and he?ll show it tomorrow.
?We?ll see it on top of the ring. I assure everyone a good fight. Then we?ll see who?s not in whose level,? said Albert, who?s coming off a one-sided unanimous verdict over Yesner Talavera. ?We have studied him and how to hit him. We already got him figured out.?
Albert is 26-0 with 18 knockouts, while Juarez is 17-5 with 13 knockouts.
Albert?s older brother, Jason Pagara (38-2, 23 KOs), faces Mexican Abraham Alvarez (21-9-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round main supporting bout.
In the undercard, Ricardo Pinell (13-2-1, 7 KOs) trades leathers with Roberto Yong (5-8-2, 4 KOs), Mauricio Zavaleta (2-2, 2 KOs) is up against Roberto Yong (5-8-2, 4 KOs), unbeaten prospect Pete Duran (14-0, 11 KOs) squares off with Filipino journeyman Edgar Gabejan (27-33-6, 9 KOs), Israel Hernandez (0-2-1) takes on debuting Filipino-American Michael Flores.
