ALA-COBRA BOXING ON SINULOG SUNDAY
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Jan 2013
CEBU- It is that time of the year once again when revelry and dancing fill the streets of Cebu City. The Sinulog festival - created to honour the Holy Child Jesus or Santo Ni?o ? is also the biggest street party in the country.
Boxing fans also look forward to ?Free to the Public? boxing event which has become a tradition for ALA Promotions. The January 20 event will be headlined by the ten rounder between ?Prince? Albert Pagara and Jilo Merlin.
The 18 year old Pagara, who fights out of of the ALA Gym, will stake his unbeaten record against Merlin, who has fought world ranked Thai boxers including Pungluang Sor Singyu. The 24 year old Merlin was knocked out by Pungluang in one round in 2009. This is the same Pungluang who beat AJ Banal by ninth round TKO last October.
Both Pagara (14W-0L, 10 KO's) and Merlin (12W-14L-2D, 2 KO's) stepped on the scales at 118 lbs during the official weigh-in held Saturday Jan.19 at the fight venue supervised by Glen Agena of GAB-Cebu.
To add color to the festivities, the event was opened by a Sinulog dance number.
Jilo Merlin
Pagara will headline the Sinulog boxing card for a second year in a row. Last year, he stopped Louie Bantigue in three rounds. Albert is the younger brother of WBO International jr.welterweight titlist Jason ?El Ni?o? Pagara.
The main supporting bout will involve the 10 round non-title match between Philippine jr.flyweight champion Jerson Mancio of the ALA gym and 2011 Buhay Boksingero superflyweight winner Gerpaul 'Captain Hook' Valero of the Flores Boxing Gym of Mandaue City.
Jerson Mancio
Mancio (16W-3L-3D, 7 KO's) weighed in at 112 lbs while Valero stepped in at 111 lbs. Valero?s record of 13W (8 KO's)-13L?3D is very deceptive. He has won 12 straight fights since being mentored by trainer and former national team member Brix Flores. Last year, Valero upset Mancio?s stablemate Marjhun Macahilig by first round TKO.
For the other undercard matches - Jimmy Paypa (122lbs) will fight former PABA titlist Marvin Tampus (119.5 lbs) in another ten rounder, Reymund Tabogon (112.5lbs) vs Abel Gayhun (112.25 lbs) - 8 rounds, Bryan Lobitania (121.5lbs) vs Jamjam Ungon (123lbs) - 4 rounds, Rolando Servania, the brother of WBO Asia-Pacific superbantamweight titlist Genesis Servania, will make his pro debut against Joyjoy Formenter (4 rounds). Servania weighed in at 112lbs while Formenter was 112lbs.
Ivor Lastrilla (122lbs) vs Freddie Bisande (123lbs) - 4 rounds and Richard Barrios (104.5lbs) vs Rolando Sanchez (104 lbs) - 4rounds.
This card is sponsored by Cobra ?Tunay na Lakas? Energy Drink and will be held at the Gaisano Country Mall Carpark. Fight time is at 6 PM.
(Topmost photo- Albert Pagara poses with Jilo Merlin after the weigh-in)
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