ALBERT Pagara is one of the most promising young prospects from the famed ALA Boxing Gym. He was once an amateur standout and his career is going well in the professional ranks, with an unbeaten record in 14 fights since his debut in 2011.
Some believe that Pagara is ready for bigger fights but ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer wants the 18-year-old to be groomed further so as to not to repeat the mistake of rushing fighters too early, in the past.
?Albert is still very young and still has a lot to learn. We don?t want to rush him like what we did with ?Boom-Boom? (Rey Bautista) and (AJ) Banal. A young fighter with a traumatic experience will find it harder to come back. So as the promoter of Albert, we will give him time to grow up and learn more before he fights for a regional title,? Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.
Pagara immediately made an impact in the professional ranks, winning all nine of his fights in 2011, beating the likes of veteran journeyman Rogen Flores and Tanzanian fighter Shabani Madilu.
He was less busy last year and had only five fights but it included a win over former Pan Asian Boxing Association light flyweight champion Marvin Tampus.
Pagara?s performance this year will mold his future in the sport.
?It depends on what he shows in every fight. If he shows consistency in his next three fights, then maybe as his promoter, we can open the doors for discussion with ALA Gym management team if Albert is ready for a regional title shot,? said Aldeguer.
Pagara, 14-0 with 10 knockouts, will have his hands full in his first fight in 2013 as he is up against battle-scarred 24-year-old Jilo Merlin in the main event of a Sinulog boxing show on Jan. 20 at the I.T. Park.
