AFTER fighting in small boxing events in his last four fights, unbeaten young prospect Albert Pagara is back in the big stage as he is slated to see action in the Pinoy Pride XXI show next month.
The 19-year-old Pagara is facing an Asian fighter, who will be known within the week.
?He will be in the fourth slot against an Asian fighter,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.
?A fighter that can bring out the best in him. As a promoter, there are still things I see that he still needs to work on, that may take time.?
Aldeguer believes that Pagara is still a work in progress and isn?t ready for a step up in competition, like against Hispanic fighters.
Pagara, who is just in his second year as a pro boxer, has already fought Thais and an African.
Pagara is 16-0 with 11 knockouts. He has won back-to-back fights this year?a technical knockout over Jilo Merlin and a unanimous decision against Jessie Tuyor.
The main event of Pinoy Pride XXI on July 13 at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila features the first title defense of World Boxing Organization (WBO) mini-flyweight champion Merlito Sabillo (21-0, 11 KOs) against Colombian challenger Jorle Estrada (16-6, 5 KOs).
The event also showcases unbeaten Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super flyweight king Arthur Villanueva and the ring return of two-time world title challenger AJ ?Bazooka? Banal.
Villanueva (21-0, 11 KOs) guns for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific super flyweight strap against former world title contender Arturo Badillo (21-4, 19 KOs), while Banal (28-2-1, 20 KOs) takes on Mexican Ramon Maas (26-3, 15 KOs) in a non-title bout.
