ALBERT PAGARA DROPS IN IBF RANKING
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 03 Mar 2016
CEBU ? Undefeated title contender 'Prince' Albert Pagara (26-0-0, 18KO), who won by lopsided decision over the backpedaling Yesner Talavera of Nicaragua last Saturday here, has dropped one notch to No. 4 at the latest IBF rankings after last Saturday's hostilities where the champions and several contenders of the super bantamweight division saw action. Previously ranked No. 4 Rey Vargas (26-0-0, 21KO) who also fought last Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California knocking out Christian Esquivel in the 3rd round, took Pagara's place at No. 3.
This is an important development as Pagara, at No. 3, could have fought for the title if British Carl Frampton, the IBF super bantamweight champion who added the WBA belt to his collection after defeating compatriot Scott Quigg, also last Saturday in Manchester, will opt to relinquish his IBF belt.
Frampton is in a bind as he was mandated by the IBF to fight No. 1 contender Shingo Wake of Japan in his next fight. At the same time Frampton was immediately ordered by the WBA to defend his WBA title against champion in recess Guillermo Rigondeaux, a match that the Frampton camp showed interest, according to reports.
Now, it will be IBF No. 1 Wake and No. 3 Vargas who will likely fight for the vacant title once Frampton formally relinquish it. The No. 2 spot is vacant.
?I'm not really surprised that Albert was dropped,? Pagara's promoter Michael Aldeguer told Philboxing. ?Last October, we were supposed to defend Albert's IBF intercontinental super bantamweight belt but we were not able to do so. I think that was the reason why he was dropped.? Aldeguer said. Pagara instead fought for the WBO intercontinental super bantamweight title knocking out Nicaraguan William Gonzalez in the 6th round at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
?I do think that the IBF will order an eliminator for the No. 2 spot because I don't think the IBF will order the No. 1 and No. 3 fight for the title. That's not how the IBF works,? Aldeguer added. If that's the case, Pagara could fight Vargas for the No. 2 spot.
Pagara is ranked No. 2 by the WBO in super bantamweight under No. 1 Jessie Magdaleno. The WBO champion is Pagara's compatriot Nonito Donaire Jr. Pagara is also ranked No. 8 by the WBC and No. 7 by Ring.
Aldeguer, however, said they will go ahead with their plan to have Albert headline the July 9 card in San Mateo, California and the September 24 card in Carson, also in California. ?We will see what's in store for Albert next year as far as his title chances go whether it's for the WBO belt or the IBF,? Aldeguer said.
Photo: Albert Pagara (R) in action against Yesner Talavera of Nicaragua last Saturday in Cebu.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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