FASCINATING UNDERCARD SPICES UP PINOY PRIDE 30
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 27 Mar 2015
QUEZON CITY ? The spotlight focused on Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes and Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire during the final press conference for PINOY PRIDE 30: D-DAY held Thursday at the Solaire Resort and Casino.
But interesting undercard matches are also in store for the hardcore boxing fan. Blue chip prospect ?Prince? Albert Pagara will be risking his world ranking and undefeated record when he defends his IBF Inter-continental junior featherweight title against Rodolfo ?Fofo? Hernandez of Mexico.
Pagara (22W-0L, 15KO?s) got his first belt when he stopped Mexican Hugo Partida in one round last June at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.Pagara is ranked number seven in the February rankings of the IBF whose world champ is Carl Frampton of Northern Ireland.
Hernandez (26-5-1,24KO?s) has a high KO percentage and beat Mario Briones in a single round in his last fight. This is the same Briones who went the twelve round distance with AJ Banal in Bacolod City four years ago.
Two foreign fighters - Ryo Akaho of Japan against Prosper Ankrah of Ghana ? are set for a twelve round battle for the WBO International bantamweight belt.
Akaho (25-1-2,17KO?s) is a former Japan and OPBF super flyweight titlist but came up short in his bid for the WBC world super flyweight title in 2012 against countryman Yota Sato. Ankrah (24-4,15KO?s) was stopped by a future IBF champ Carl Frampton in two rounds for the Commonwealth super bantamweight title.
Both Pagara and Akaho had a great learning experience sparring with Donaire.
ALA Promotions Pres and CEO Michael Aldeguer said that signing Akaho is in line with his company?s goal to secure world class foreign boxers to fight under the ALA banner.
?Why can?t a Filipino company do what Top Rank and Golden Boy are doing?? Aldeguer stated during the presscon. Akaho is the number one ranked contender in the WBO.
Also penned on the preliminary bouts are AJ ?Bazooka? Banal vs Junior Bahawa of Indonesia (8 rounds), Joepher Montano of Bacolod City vs Tyson Maher of Australia (4 rounds), Jeson Umbal vs Eric Panza (8 rounds) and Ralph Lulu vs Gerry Patenio (4 rounds).
PINOY PRIDE XXX: D-Day will feature WBO and Ring magazine lineal world champion Donnie Nietes? defense against Gilberto Parra of Mexico and Nonito Donaire vs William Prado of Brazil for the NABF super bantamweight title set at the Araneta Coliseum March 28.
Photo: Up and coming star Albert Pagara does the mitts with Elorde awards trainer of the year Edmund Villamor.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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