April 23 card will determine Pagara’s world title chance

GOT YA! Filipino “Prince” Albert Pagara of the famed ALA Boxing Gym finally corners the perpetually retreating Yesner Talavera of Nicaragua during their main event fight held Saturday in the Pinoy Pride 35: Stars of the Future card. Although not included in the upcoming April 23 card at the Cebu City Sports Center, the card is still crucial for Pagara as it will determine his chance of finally challenging for a world title. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

The mouth-watering boxing card slated on April 23 here in Cebu to be bannered by five-time world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is made even more exciting with the addition of Top Rank’s unbeaten American prospect, Jessie Magdaleno in the undercard.

The card, to be held at the Cebu City Sports Center, will mark the first defense of Donaire of his WBO world super bantamweight belt against Hungarian challenger Zsolt Bedak.

Magdaleno’s inclusion in the card co-sponsored by ALA Promotions International, Bob Arum’s Top Rank and broadcast giant ABS-CBN, was relayed to CDN by no less than ALA Promotions International CEO Michael Aldeguer.

The unbeaten Magdaleno (23-0,17KOs), incidentally the top contender in the super bantamweight division, is the reigning NABF junior super bantamweight champion. He knocked out Filipino Rey Perez in his last fight last February 20 in Phoenix Arizona.

Next to him in the rankings is WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight champion “Prince” Albert Pagara who successfully defended his title against Nicaraguan

Yesner Talavera last Saturday night in the main event of Pinoy Pride 35: Stars of the Future at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

According to Aldeguer,Magdaleno’s fight on April 23 will determine who between him and Pagara will be the No. 1 contender in the division. This is especially crucial since Donaire Jr. is planning to move up to the featherweight division if he beats Bedak.

“Top Rank Promotions will feature two fights and that includes Magdaleno. It’s not yet finalized who will he be facing but for sure it’s going to be a defining moment for us because if he wins, he could face Donaire Jr. next. If Donaire Jr. moves up weight, then he and Pagara can fight for the vacated title,” Aldeguer said.

Magdaleno is also rated No. 3 by the WBA and No. 5 by the IBF.

Adding excitement to the fight card is the inclusion of newly crowned WBO Youth featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo who also won last Saturday against Mexican Eduardo Montoya in the co-main event of Pinoy Pride 35.