Pagara KO?s Bantigue in 3 rounds in ALA-Cobra ?Tunay na Lakas? Sinulog Boxing (PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Jan 2012
Cebu City - ?Prince? Albert Pagara of the ALA Gym hammered Lowie Bantigue and knocked him down in rounds one and two before finishing the job in round three. Pagara worked behind a busy left jab and a sharp right. In the third, a string of one-two combinations sent Bantigue down face first. He tried to get up but was on wobbly legs prompting Referee Teddy Alivio to stop the fight at the 25 second mark.
This fight was the main event of a free to the public fight card at the Gaisano Country Mall Carpark on Sinulog Sunday. The 17 year old Pagara remained unbeaten and scored his tenth pro win, eight by knockout. The 27 year old Bantigue entered this bout as a 44 fight veteran (21W-16L-7D,12 KO's) with wins in Japan. Pagara was fighting as a ten rounder for the first time.
In the undercards, Welberth Loberanis gave Jonathan Ricablanca a stylish boxing lesson for 10 rounds. Loberanis won by a wide unanimous decision with scores of 98-92, 98-92 and 100-90.
Melvin Gumban beat Joash Apericio by unanimous decision in an entertaining eight round brawl. The scores ? 77-75,77-75 and 78-74. Roma Rate won by TKO against Rowel Garcia at the end of the second round. Garcia decided not to enter the third round after receiving a series of hard shots.
Mark Vincent Bernaldez punished Royroy Sumugat with hard left hooks to the body and head for four rounds before Sumugat eventually decided not to fight in the fifth round awarding the TKO win to Bernaldez. Juren Labordo won by first round TKO against Taos Basar. Labordo pinned Basar in the blue corner and unloaded brutal combinations prompting Referee Ben Necessario to halt the bout at the 2:04 mark. Rey Morales beat Renante Suacasa by unanimous decision after 4 rounds. The scorecards read 39-37 for all three judges. The event was opened by amateur bouts.The professional fights were supervised by Glen Agena and Celso Miranda of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB-Cebu). This card is part of the continuing partnership of ALA Promotions and Cobra Energy Drink.
Top photo: Lowie Bantigue is sent to the canvas face down by Albert Pagara in a 3rd round action during their bout Sunday night at the Gaisano Country Mall in Cebu City.
Albert Pagara wins by 3rd round TKO over Bantigue.
Loberanis (R) vs Ricablanca.
Gumban (L) vs Aparicio.
Roma Rate (L) vs Garcia.
Bernaldez (L) vs Sumugat.
Lebordo wins by first round TKO in his professional debut over Basar.
Photos by Dong Secuya.
The pro bouts were supervised by Glen Agena and Celso Miranda. This card was opened by amateur contests and is part of the continuing partnership of ALA Promotions and Cobra Energy Drink together with Summit Natural Drinking Water and Manila Beer.
POSTSCRIPT:
This would qualify as the first real test for the young Pagara and he was very impressive against a well-traveled veteran with a reputation as being hard to beat.
?Free to the public? boxing matches have always been a treat to the Cebuano fight fans during the Sinulog festival. It is a tradition that has sustained interest in boxing here in Cebu even during the pre-Pacquiao years.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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