PAGARA FACES TOUGH TEST TONIGHT AGAINST HIRALES IN PINOY PRIDE 28
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 15 Nov 2014
Undefeated young ALA Gym star Albert Pagara?s mettle will be tested tonight in what is considered as one of the toughest trial of his immaculate boxing career. The 20-year-old Pagara stakes his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Inter-Continental super bantamweight title against Mexican Raul Hirales in Pinoy Pride 28 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Lahug, Cebu City.
Pagara, 21-0 with 15 knockouts, won his IBF belt via a very impressive first round demolition of Mexican Hugo Partida last June 21.
?It should be the toughest fight for Albert. If he wins, this fight should springboard his career,? Pagara?s handler, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer was quoted by SunStar Cebu. ?This fight would answer what level is Pagara right now.?
The 30-year-old challenger from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico has a professional record of 22-3-1 with 11 knockouts. He has fought some of the best international boxers. On January 28, 2011 Hirales defeated veteran Charles Huerta in San Diego, California. On May 26, 2012, Hirales clashed with fellow unbeaten fighter Irishman Carl Frampton in Nottingham, United Kingdom for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight crown. He lost the bout though by unanimous decision.
?Pagara will step into the ring for the biggest fight of his rising career,? according to renowned boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz. ?Hirales is an experienced boxer and it will be one of the most exciting fights in Pinoy Pride 28.?
On October 19, 2013, Hirales was the same fighter who stopped fellow Mexican Francisco "Frankie" Leal via an eighth-round knockout in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Leal died from a brain injury suffered in the bout dominated by Hirales. He knocked Leal down in the sixth round with a clean right hand. And in the eighth round, Hirales connected with another right hand to the head, and Leal was floored again. Leal was able to beat the referee's count but immediately collapsed, and the fight was stopped with 10 seconds left in the round. He was carried by a stretcher and was admitted to a hospital in Cabo San Lucas where he went into a coma and was later transferred to San Diego where he died.
Hirales however lost his last bout against another hard-hitting opponent Luis Melendez of Colombia for the vacant WBO/NABO super bantamweight title last August 16. Melendez ended the boxing career of Z ?The Dream? Gorres who underwent a brain surgery after their fight.
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