Maintaining an unbeaten record at a very young age is a tough task to handle for a fast-rising boxer.
But this is one of the reasons why 21-year-old Albert “Prince” Pagara has become a great boxer.
Pagara’s trainer Edito Villamor said his ward’s ability to keep his unblemished record intact is a sign of how matured the Maasin City-native has become as a boxer. In fact, Villamor says Pagara is ready to take on bigger fights.
This March 28, Pagara (22-0-0, 15KOs) faces his toughest opponent to date as he defends his IBF Intercontinental Super Bantamweight title against Rodolfo “Fofo” Fernandez (26-5-1, 24KOs) of Mexico in the undercard of the Pinoy Pride 30: D-Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Villamor said he is confident his boxer can deliver in the upcoming bout. He said that because of Pagara’s vast amateur background, the latter has what it takes to take on tougher foes.
“I always tell him to stay focused while training and most of all during actual fights because most of his opponents are very experienced,” Villamor said. “But I know that he is also very experienced that’s why I am confident.”
Still, Villamor reminded Pagara that Fernandez is a dangerous opponent who must not be taken lightly and that he should continue to stay focused come fight night.
“Fernandez has a very high knockout percentage that’s why we are really training hard for this fight,” Villamor added.
Fernandez has impressive credentials. He is a former WBC interim Latino super bantamweight champion, a former WBC continental Americas super bantamweight champion and former WBO NABO super bantamweight titleholder. This will be his first time to fight outside of Mexico.
Pagara easily won over Hugo Partida via a resounding first-round technical knockout last year here in Cebu in a fight which was expected to be a tough one for the young ALA bet. Pagara also proved that he can be a very dominant fighter when he punished 31-year-old Raul Hirales for the IBF title last year in a unanimous decision victory.
The upcoming fight card will feature two-division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (34-1-4, 20KOs) taking on Mexican knockout artist Gilbert Parra (19-2, 17KOs) and five-division world champion and former WBA featherweight king Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. (33-3, 21KOs) facing Brazilian William Prado (22-4-1, 15KOs).
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