ALBERT PAGARA HEADLINES PINOY PRIDE 44 IN MAASIN
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 Apr 2018
CEBU ? Former world title contender 'Prince' Albert Pagara aims to return to old form when he headlines the 44th edition of the highly successful boxing TV series Pinoy Pride, this time to be held in his birthplace in Maasin City, the former hispanic town in Sourthern Leyte, Eastern Visayas region in the Philippines scheduled on June 9, 2018. Co-headlining the event is knockout artist Jeo Santisima and Albert's older brother Jason Pagara.
Hosting the event is the city government of Maasin. Three-term Maasin City mayor and now vice-mayor Maloney L. Samaco said that it was his long-time wish to put up a Pinoy Pride event in his beloved city which is also the birthplace of Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and Filipino basketball star Ramon Fernadez. ?Now finally it's happening. I look forward to hosting one of the best Pinoy Pride's ever,? Samaco said during Tuesday's press conference at St. Mark's Hotel here.
After a disastrous loss ? his only loss ? to Mexican slugger Cesar Juarez in July 2016 in San Mateo, California, Pagara (29-1-0, 20KOs) seemed lost and disinterested. Although he had won three fights since against light weight opponents, his performances left much to be desired.
?This time the old Albert Pagara will be back,? a smiling Pagara who at 24 years old still has a lot of boxing days ahead of him, told the Cebu media.
?I learned a lot in that Juarez loss. It means I need to exert much more effort. I need to train more and improve my skills. I want to be back in the rankings and if there is an opportunity, I want to have a rematch with Juarez,? Pagara said.
Pagara will face Laryea Gabriel Odoi of Ghana who has a record of 20 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Featheweight Championship, the same belt that Pagara lost to Juarez. Odoi only fought once outside his country when he fought Martin Ward of Britain in 2013 for the Commonwealth British Empire bantamweight title in Newcastle, UK where lost by unanimous decision.
L-R: Trainer Edmund Villamor, Jeo Santisima, Albert Pagara, Maasin Vice-Mayor Maloney Samaco, Jason Pagara and matchmaker Edito Villamor at Tuesday's press conference for Pinoy Pride 44 at St. Mark's Hotel.
A win over Odoi will put Pagara back in the world rankings and the arduous task of positioning himself for a rematch with his Mexican nemesis or a direct shot at a world title continues.
In the co-feature, knockout artist Jeo Santisima (15-2-0, 13KOs) will take on Likit Chane (16-5-0, 10KOs) of Thailand for the vacant WBO Oriental Jr. Featherweight title. In his last outing two months ago, Chane lost to the Philippines' Juan Miguel Elorde for the WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight title. He had also losses to Filipinos Daryl Basadre and former world champion Malcolm Tu?acao.
?We will continue Jeo's build up so he will become a well-rounded fighter,? ALA Gym matchmaker Edito Villamor said. ?If Jeo wins this fight, he will get a world ranking and then we will match him against the best in the division.?
Another co-feature is Jason Pagara who looks to get back into the win-column after he lost by knockout to Japan's Hiroki Okada last December. Pagara (40-3-1, 25KOs) will face Geilsler Ap (12-10-1, 9KOs) of Indonesia.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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