PRINCE ALBERT PAGARA WILL BE AWARDED AGAIN BY MAASIN CITY GOVERNMENT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Apr 2015
The Prince of Philippine boxing Albert Pagara will be honored again by the City Government of Maasin this coming April 20 during the flag raising ceremony of the city employees at the Maasin City Gym. This is the city?s recognition for continuing his reign as International Boxing Federation intercontinental superbantamweight champion when he halted Mexican visitor Rodolfo "Fofo" Hernandez during Pinoy Pride 30 at the Araneta Coliseum last March 28.
Thousands of city residents in this capital of Southern Leyte witnessed their favorite boxer-son demolished his opponent on television when it was showed over ABS-CBN the following day. The former world champion Nonito Donaire stopped William Prado of Brazil only in two rounds in the co-main event of the boxing card entitled D-Day, paving way for the inclusion of the Pagara-Hernadez bout on TV.
A motorcade will follow the ceremony along the major thoroughfares of Maasin City. Then Pagara is expected to visit his relatives at Barangay Lib-og and see some friends and acquaintances. His uncle Barangay Captain Walter Sepe is preparing seafoods, the favorite dish of his nephew boxing superstar.
The Pagara-Hernandez fight is the most action-packed bout of Pinoy Pride 30 and Prince Albert is one of the most well-loved ALA Gym boxing stars. Even at the start of round one, Pagara's blazing guns sent Hernandez down to the canvas to the delight of the roaring crowd. A right uppercut to the chin followed by another solid right to the face of the challenger sent him to the deck less than a minute gone in the starting round.
The Mexican absorbed a lot punishment from the Maasin City champion pinning him on the ropes as Pagara wanted to stop him. Feeling the stinging blows of the great ALA Gym prospect, Fofo did not answer the bell sounding the fifth round being worn out from a lot of beating and punching.
Hernandez's reason of quitting was that he injured his right hand but it was too obvious that he was greatly outclassed by the 21-year-old undefeated Pagara who scored his 23rd win and 16th KO victory.
"I wanted to floor him after the first round knockdown," said Albert. "It's just that he surrendered before hitting the canvas again."
The younger Pagara looks forward to training in the United States with elder brother Jason who is now the WBO international junior welterweight champion. Unbeaten in all his amateur and professional fights, Prince Albert is rated No. 9 by the authoritative Ring Magazine in his weight division and No. 7 by the IBF.
His dream of becoming a world champion is not far-fetched but he put everything in proper perspective. "Sir ALA has good plans for me and he is doing his best for my future."
"There's no other way to go for Albert but up," said Antonio L. Aldeguer, the country's number one boxing patron.
Photo: Albert Pagara pressures Fofo Hernandez during their IBF intercontinental title fight last March 28 at the Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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