PINOY PRIDE 26: PAGARA BROS STOP FOES (PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Jun 2014
CEBU CITY - Jason ?El Ni?o? Pagara of the ALA Gym held on to his WBO International light welterweight title in a compelling shootout against Mario ?Rocky? Meraz of Mexico. Pagara started strong and dropped Meraz with a left and right hook to the head in the opening round. But Meraz quickly recuperated and tried to match Pagara punch for punch in the subsequent rounds.
The third round started with both boxers throwing haymakers and Pagara also mixed his offense with body shots. Pagara?s left hook found its target but Meraz showed a lot of toughness despite being staggered on several occasions. Meraz?s potent right made him stay in the fight despite being pinned on the ropes and receiving hard volleys. In the fourth, a brutal barrage from Pagara had Meraz reeling and seeking refuge on the ropes. Meraz was knocked down again after a series of power punches. He stood up but referee Danrex Tapdasan ruled that Meraz was on unsteady legs after he instructed the Mexican to walk towards him prompting the stoppage at the 2:59 mark.
?Prince? Albert Pagara made it a very short night for Hugo ?Olimpico? Partida of Mexico. The younger of the Pagara brothers smacked Partida with a right to the jaw and dropped him in the opening round. Partida got up but Pagara landed another barrage that had Partida falling to the ropes. Referee Bruce McTavish correctly ruled a second knockdown since if it wasn?t for the ring ropes, the Mexican would have hit the canvas.
A left hook to the jaw sent Partida down again and referee McTavish decided to end the slaughter. Time 1:18 1st round. Pagara was awarded his first belt ? the IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight title.
Albert Pagara connects on Partida.
Brothers Albert and Jason celebrate after Saturday night's victories.
AJ Banal registers a second round knockout victory against Palulu.
Jimrex Jaca suffered a cut and his fight with Japan's Masayoshi Kotak was declared a technical draw.
PHOTOS BY MARY JANE CATRIZ.
For the supporting contests:
AJ ?Bazooka? Banal survived a flash knockdown in the first round to knock out Defry ?The Hammer? Palulu of Indonesia in the second. Heavy hooks to the body, including three successive right hooks to the ribs sent Palulu through the ropes.Referee Tony Pesons reached the ten count at the 2:59 mark.
Jimrex ?Executioner? Jaca knocked down Masayoshi Kotake Japan in the opening round but a clash of heads in the third round inflicted a deep gash on Jaca?s right eyelid which led to the fight being declared a technical draw.
Elmo ?Bisdak? Traya knocked down Naozumi Tsuchiyama of Japan three times in round one and referee Dan Nietes stopped the fight at the 2:40 mark.
In an entertaining back and forth encounter, Richard ?Chiwawa? Barrios leaned on the knockdown he scored in the seventh to beat Lester John Pronco by unanimous decision after 8 rounds. Scores ? Judge Arnel Pasion ? 77-74, Salven Lagumbay ? 78-73 and Arnie Najera ? 76-75. Jess Rhey Waminal won by unanimous decision against Fritz Cabilla in 4 rounds. Scores ? A. Pasion ? 39-36,A.Najera -40-35, D.Nietes ? 40-35. Cabilla was deducted a point in round four for excessive holding. Kazuma Ejiri of Japan handily beat Jerome Baja by 4 round unanimous verdict. All three judges ? Nic Banal, Arnie Najera and Arnel Pasion- had it 40-36.
PINOY PRIDE XXVI: FISTS OF THE FUTURE was held Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
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