WBO youth Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight champion Albert Pagara of the Philippines makes his second pro fight in the U.S. against Mexican challenger Cesar Juarez on July 9 at the San Mateo Event Center, San Mateo, California.
Pagara made his U.S. debut at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California last year with a sixth round knockout win over William Gonzalez of Nicaragua. The 22-year-old fighter from Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Philippines, was part of the Philippine-based ALA Promotions debut in the US along with brother Jason, Mark Magsayo and longest-reigning Filipino world boxing champion Donnie Niertes. All four of them won their respective fights in a well-attended weekend boxing event dubbed “Pinoy Pride 34.” As part of his preparation for his July 9 fight, Pagara spent some time at the famous Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach in Los Angeles with no less than the seven-time “Trainer of the Year” helping him out when time permits. Now, Pagara and the ALA fighters are training and acclimatizing themselves in San Francisco leading up to their July 9 engagement. Headed by the younger Pagara, “Pinoy Pride 37” features Jason Pagara who will be facing Mexican-American Abraham Alvarez (21-9-1, 10 KOs) Supporting bouts include American prospects Hector Valdez vs Vincent Jennings, Maurio Zavaleta vs Darren Mallard, Israel Hernandez vs Michael Flores and Lenard Davies vs David Figueroa. Pagara knows he has a tough fight ahead as he watched Juarez in a toe-toe fight against Nonito Donaire. But he said he prefers a slugger like Juarez over a foe who runs around. “He?s a good boxer and I can?t be too confident,” Pagara said. “But I need to be careful. Juarez carries a punch,? he said. “It?s better to fight a slugger than one who keeps running,” Pagara added.
