
FIREWORKS REALLY EXPLODE BEFORE A JAMPACKED CROWD IN PINOY PRIDE 44 IN MAASIN CITY  (PHOTOS)
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 10 Jun 2018

Pinoy Pride 44 is one of the most successful edition of the globally-known professional boxing series by ABS-CBN and ALA Sports Promotion.  It was one of the most well attended Pinoy Pride fight card with a full-house and jampacked Maasin City Gym.  
The crowd too far exceeded the 4000 capacity of the arena while several people still were not able to come in as the police advised not to admit them anymore to prevent possible stampede.
ABS-CBN bigwigs, WBO and GAB Officials were delighted on the audience reception of the fights and never before they witnessed such an enthusiastic crowd which roared everytime hard punches landed on the boxers.
L-R: ABS-CBN's Peter Musngi, Maasin City mayor Nikko Mercado and wife Daisy Jane, Chona and husband Maasin City vice-mayor Maloney Samaco at ringside Saturday night during the Pinoy Pride 44 event in Maasin City.
"We'll be back next year," says ABS-CBN Sports executive Peter Musngi, the man behind the success of Pinoy Pride boxing series together with ALA Sports Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer.
Mayor Nacional "Nikko" Mercado was delighted with the successful staging of the event and more than willing to accept another hosting of the blockbuster pro boxing card which was televised worldwide through Sky Cable and The Filipino Channel.
As expected fireworks exploded in all the eight bouts last night and all fights ended in KO or TKO.  It was indeed a Night of Knockouts.
Laryea Gabriel Odoi is almost thrown out of the ring by Pagara.
?Prince? Albert Pagara (30-1-0, 21 KOs) of Maasin City was just too powerful for the visiting Laryea Gabriel Odoi (20-3-2, 14 KOs) of Accra, Ghana.  The African kissed the canvas two times that he went out of ropes one time.  The trainer of Odoi threw in the towel as an act of surrender at 2:30 of the third round for a TKO victory for Albert and the WBO intercontinental junior featherweight title awarded by WBO Vice President for Asia Pacific Leon Panoncillo Jr.
Pagara thanked the all-out support of his city and province mates and was so elated with his victory.  He is expected to climb the world rankings and fight for the world title someday.
Jeo Santisima (R) throws a right at Likit Chane.
Jeo Santisima (16-2-0, 14 KOs) of Aroroy, Masbate made mincemeat of Thailand's Likit Chane (16-7-0, 10KOs) as the referee Tony Pesons stopped the fight in the third round.  Santisima won the WBO Oriental junior featherweight title amid the protest of the Thai corner of early stoppage.  Chane's legs were already wobbly and threw very few punches since the opening bell.
Jason Pagara (L) drops Wellem Reyk.
Jason Pagara of Maasin City stopped Indonesia's Wellem Reyk at 1:15 of the third round attacking the body of his visiting opponent with a barrage causing him to collapse in the canvas.
The supporting bouts were very exciting as local boxers slug it out toe-to-toe to the satisfaction of the full capacity crowd.
Arthur Villanueva (R) throws a right against Renren Tesorio.
?King? Arthur Villanueva of Bacolod City thumped Renren Tesorio with a TKO at 1:42 of the 7th round. 
Melvin Jerusalem of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon finally stopped the resilient Philip Luis Cuerdo of Mandaluyong City by eighth-round TKO.         
Filipino-Japanese Go Hosaka unleashed a barrage of punches on Holly Quinones of General Santos City winning by dropping him 2:47 in round one.       
   
Joyjoy Fomentera of Cebu City dominated Lobert Bayo of Mandaue City sending him to the floor at 49 seconds of the third round.
Carlito Antaran of Sarangani floored Jeno Macapobre of Toledo City twice enroute to a second round TKO.
During the press conference in Cebu last May, this writer told the media "This Pinoy Pride may not be the best but definitely one of the best." And it was done.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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