MASAM SPORTS 78: PRINCE ALBERT PAGARA IS BACK, STOPS ALLAN VILLANUEVA IN FOUR ROUNDS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Nov 2022
Prince Albert Pagara is back after two years of inactivity and defeated Allan Villanueva by TKO at the end of the fourth round at Talisay City Sports Complex, Talisay City last night. The 28-year-old Pagara showed that he still has the potential to become a champion once again.
He jumped to the junior welterweight division, same category as his elder brother Jason, and let Villanueva quit in his stool in between rounds in an eight-rounder co-main event of Prime Stags Sports Boxing.
Right from the opening bell, Pagara dominated the fight connecting almost at will to the head of the 26-year-old Villanueva. Though his speed may have dwindled a bit because of the move to three heavier divisions but he showed flashes of his old championship form.
Before the fight Pagara last saw action on December 18, 2020 beating Virgil Puton via a lopsided unanimous decision. Pagara's record improved to 34 wins, 24 by knockouts, and one defeat. While the slumping Villanueva dipped to 11-4 with eight knockouts and all his defeats were in the last four bouts.
Pagara entered the fight at an official weight of 138 lbs and dominated the bigger Villanueva who was 139½ lbs.
This could signal the revival of the career of the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) intercontinental super bantamweight champion. He has fought only twice in the last four years, and was erased from the top world rankings.
Villanueva also lost his bouts against Carlo Bacaro, Tomjune Mangubat, and Al Toyogon. He lost to Bacaro by unanimous decision, to Mangubat by a seventh round knockout and to Toyogon by knockout in the second round last August 7.
Pagara plans to move down in weight and fight at either super featherweight or lightweight after he regains his old fighting weight. "I may be fighting for a bigger fight and hopefully become a champion again,” Pagara said as quoted by SunStar Cebu.
Pagara now trains in the boxing gym named after him in Liloan, Cebu under new manager, Paul Best, a Scottish boxing patron based in Cebu who has the same interest in the fight business like Pagara.
Pagara’s only loss was dealt by Mexican Cesar Juarez in 2016 via an eighth round knockout in San Mateo, California. After the loss, he redeemed himself and won eight straight fights since 2017.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Crawford to defy odds?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
Sat, 13 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
Sat, 13 Sep 2025SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025