LOOKING GOOD. Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (center) Jeo “Santino” Santisima (left) and “Prince” Albert Pagara from the ALA Gym, skip rope during their final workout last Saturday at the SM City Cebu Activity Center. The three will headline Pinoy Pride 41 on July 8.
(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
The prized boxers of ALA Boxing Gym looked ready and eager to wage war inside the ring in the Pinoy Pride 41: New Generation Warriors on July 8 at the Ic3 Convention Center in Cebu City.
World Boxing Organization (WBO) international featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, knockout artist Jeo “Santino” Santisima and “Prince” Albert Pagara looked very sharp Saturday during their final public workout at the SM City Cebu Event Center after months of rigid training at the ALA Boxing Gym.
The unbeaten Magsayo (16-0-0, 12KOs) will defend his title against ex-world title challenger Daniel “El General” Diaz (23-7-2,15 KOs).
“I’m done with my training. I am just maintaining my weight heading to fight week,” said Magsayo. “I can’t say that I can easily knock out my opponent because he is experienced and his punches are packed with power. All I can promise to my fans is a great fight and I will make sure I will be victorious.”
Santisima (13-2-0, 11 KOs), meanwhile, will be featured in the co-main event against undefeated Tanzanian Goodluck Mrema (16-0-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round non-title bout.
Despite facing an undefeated foe, Santisima is confident to come out victorious.
“I don’t feel any pressure at all because I am very confident with my training and I am very excited to step inside the ring,” Santisima said.
He admitted Mrema will be a tough foe. “He’s a good boxer, no doubt about that. But I will make sure I will win this fight.”
Pagara (27-1-0, 18KOs), on the other hand, is not bothered with the replacement of his opponent. He was initially scheduled to fight Indonesian Waldo Sabu (12-8-0, 2 KOs) for a 10-rounder non-title bout in the undercard but the latter backed out due to conflict with his promoter in Indonesia.
Sabu was replaced by Aekkawee Kaewamanee (16-9-0, 6KOs) of Thailand.
“There’s no need to change my training and my strategy because I can adjust inside the ring,” he said. “I remained focused for the fight even though my opponent was replaced and I am very eager to make a comeback,” said the 23-year-old Pagara.
Pagara lost via knockout to Mexican Cesar Juarez in July last year in the USA. In his first fight from that loss, Pagara defeated Reymond Commey of Africa via unanimous decision in November in a fight not many thought was enough to redeem the Maasin City boxer from the earlier KO loss.