PINOY PRIDE 26 : MEXICAN BOXERS PROMISE A RING WAR (PRESSCON PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 18 Jun 2014
CEBU CITY ? For more than a decade, boxing match-ups involving Filipino and Mexican fighters have produced explosive, fan-friendly spectacles. Visiting boxers Mario ?Rocky? Meraz (20W-3L,16KO?s) and Hugo ?Olympico? Partida (21-W4L-2D,16KO?s) vowed that their fights against the Pagara brothers this Saturday will not be an exception.
They told the members of the Cebu sports media and the fans to ?Expect a war? during a press conference held Wednesday at the Rajah Park Hotel.
?I have prepared for three months,? Meraz said, ?I am very well prepared and hungry for a win.?
Meraz will face Jason ?El Ni?o? Pagara (33W-2L, 20KO?s) of the ALA gym for the WBO International junior welterweight title in the main event of the card billed as ?FISTS OF THE FUTURE? at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
?Pagara is a strong opponent, I will not look for a knockout, but if the opportunity comes, the knockout will come.? He stressed.
Partida on the other hand will fight Jason?s unbeaten younger brother, ?Prince? Albert Pagara (20-0,14KO?s) for the vacant IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight title.
?I did not join the Olympics,? Partida said, ?I got my ring name from winning boxing contests in my country called ?Olympiada?. (Albert) Pagara is young while I am experienced.?
Antonio Lozada Castillo of Team Meraz said that they come from the gym Baja Boxing, and they have produced four world titlists, names like Humberto Sotto.Team Partida?s Agustin Vasquez de la Cruz stated that they train in Gymnasio Mexico, which has 70-80 fighters, ten pros, two have gold belts and in his opinion, the most advanced gym in their country.
PHOTOS BY MARY JANE CATRIZ - Top - Mario Meraz (left) and Hugo Partida
Team Partida?s Agustin Vasquez de la Cruz, Hugo Partida, Mario Meraz, Team Meraz' Antonio Lozada Castillo and interpreter Ramon Esca?o
Below - The dignified and scholarly looking Mario "Rocky" Meraz
Hugo 'Olympico' Partida
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025
Thu, 04 Dec 2025Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Dec 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET
Thu, 04 Dec 2025MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18
Thu, 04 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai
Wed, 03 Dec 2025