CEBU, Philippines – Faced with a tough challenge, undefeated ALA Boxing Gym prospect ?Prince? Albert Pagara is (25-0, 18KOs) is hard-pressed to make an impression so as not to jeopardize the brighter opportunities that lie ahead of him.
With this, Pagara is dead serious in scoring a knockout as he defends his WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight strap against Nicaraguan champion Yesner “Cuajadita” Talavera (15-3, 4KOs) in the main event of the “Pinoy Pride 35: Stars of the Future” fightcard tomorrow night at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Barangay Lahug.
?Albert is in the horizon being the WBO ranked No.2 and we knew he always wanted to fight for the world title. Hopefully, he does well in this fight and from there we will see if we can finally give him a chance,? said ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael Aldeguer in a press conference yesterday at the Aegean Room of the Waterfront Hotel.
Pagara himself is pumped up and vowed not to let the Nicaraguan get in his way for a dream world championship match.
?I already knew his style and I am prepared for him,? said the 21-year-old Pagara. ?He (Talavera) said that there is a chance that he would knock me out, but I think it would be the other way around.?
“This is another chance for me to show that I have what it takes to be a world champion in the future and I would be glad to do it in front of the Cebuano fans,” he added. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
Aldeguer acknowledged that Talavera is a tough nut to crack and he is sure that the Nicaraguan will be the tardstick if Pagara is ready for the bigger stage.
?We are already planning a big card in July 9 at San Francisco (California) headlined by Albert, but we are not looking past Talavera who I see is a very skilled boxer,? Aldeguer said.
On the other hand, undefeated WBO Youth featherweight champion Magsayo (12-0, 10KOs) hopes to make a statement as he battles Mexican Eduardo ?Fierita? Montoya (17-4, 13KOs) in the supporting bout.
?I am confident that I will win. He is a knockout specialist and I like that because this will give me a chance to show my strength against a dangerous opponent,? said Magsayo.
In the other featured bout, former amateur standout Kevin Jake ?KJ? Cataraja (2-0, 2KOs) takes on the toughest test of his budding career as he faces a Mexican foe for the first time in Tony Rodriguez (4-1, 1KO).
The rest of the slambang show pits the other promising ALA pugs in Melvin ?Gringo? Jerusalem versus former world champion Florante Condes (27-9, 23KOs), Jeo ?Santino? Santisima (8-2, 7KOs) versusMarco Demecillo (21-4, 16KOs), and Elmo ?Bisdak? Traya (10-1, 8KOs) versus Romeo Jakosalem (16-11, 8KOs). (FREEMAN)
