SPORTS SHORTS 48: ALBERT PAGARA WILL ALSO FIGHT FOR MTK GLOBAL AND D4G PROMOTIONS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Feb 2021
World-rated super bantamweight contender “Prince“ Albert Pagara of Maasin City had a contract with the MTK Global and D4G Promotions in an advisory deal. He was later joined by four-weight world champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes under the companies' guidance. The 27-year-old Pagara, together with several boxers, were orphaned after ALA Boxing Promotions in Cebu closed shop due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Pagara together with Nietes will make their ring comebacks on April 3 under MTK Global and D4G Promotions although their opponents are to be determined yet. The April card is part of the "Dubai Fight Series" which will be aired in the United States via ESPN+. The first card features Lee McGregor challenging Karim Guerfi for his European bantamweight title, and Sean McComb facing Gavin Gwynne for the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title scheduled February 6 but was postponed.
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Pagara (32-1, 23 KOs), with a 68% KO rate, from Maasin City, Southern Leyte, is regarded as one of the hardest-hitting super-bantamweights in the division, and flamboyantly became MTK Global’s first fighter to sign from the Philippines. He is now looking forward to a bright future. “I am really excited to join MTK Global and D4G Promotions. It’s a great honor to be part of the same team as some of the biggest names in professional boxing, so I am happy and thankful for this opportunity, " said Pagara, who honed up his skills in Cagayan de Oro City.
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“I have a good record and I’m pleased with what I’ve achieved so far, but I feel I can still do so much more. That’s why I signed up with MTK Global and D4G Promotions," Pagara reasoned out. He said he started boxing when he was eight years old when he was trained by his father. It led to his brother Jason and Albert both joining the professional ranks with ALA Promotions. "I give big credit to ALA Promotions for my success and most of what I have achieved in my career as a boxer. I wouldn’t be where I am now if not because of them."
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Pagara hopes to soon fight for a title, and he knows MTK Global and D4G Promotions will help him in this endeavor. He said he has complete trust in them to help him achieve these dreams. MTK Global Chief Strategy Officer Paul Gibson added that they were elated signing Prince Albert. “The Filipino market is one we’ve been interested in for a long time so it is a pleasure to announce Albert Pagara as our first signing from the country. He is a fantastic addition to our super bantamweight stable where he sits high in the WBO rankings alongside Michael Conlan, Thomas Patrick Ward and Davey Oliver Joyce."
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Ahmed A. Seddiqi of D4G Promotions said they were thrilled to announce the signing of Albert Pagara, and they're confident that by working with MTK Global they can help him achieve his dream of becoming world champion. "He’s an extremely exciting talent, and we’re looking forward to seeing him showcase his skills when he returns to the ring in the near future.”
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Albert Pagara last fought in 2020 when he defeated veteran Virgil Puton of Polomolok, South Cotabato, by unanimous decision in an eight-rounder in one of the fights of Omega Pro Sports International's two-part boxing show last December 18, 2020. He stopped Ratchanon Sawangsoda of Si Sa Ket, Thailand on August 17, 2019 at the Ormoc Superdome, Ormoc City, Leyte.
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Leon Spinks died at a hospital in Henderson, Nevada on February 5, 2021, at age 67. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019. In 46 professional fights, he had 26 wins, 14 of these by KO, and 17 losses. In only his eighth professional fight, he won the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1978 after defeating Muhammad Ali in a split decision, in what was considered by experts as one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Spinks was later stripped of the WBC title for facing Ali in a non-sanctioned rematch seven months later, losing by a unanimous decision. As an amateur, he won the gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics together with his brother Michael Spinks.
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Since the country's Olympics debut in 1924, Filipino athletes have participated in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, but failed to attend the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because the country supported the US-led boycott. As of March 2020, the Philippines qualified four athletes for Tokyo 2020, namely Ernest Obiena in men's pole vault, Carlos Yulo in artistic gymnastics, Eumir Marcial for men's middleweight in boxing and Irish Magno for women's flyweight in boxing.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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