Pagara bros., Magsayo awe fans in US debut

CARSON, CA—Just like the main event fight, the undercard bouts in the  Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs. The World lived up to the billing, giving a predominantly Filipino boxing fans here a look into the future of Philippine boxing when the big names fade into the sunset in a year or two.
Twenty-one-year-old Prince Albert Pagara, defending his WBO Intercontinental Youth super-bantamweight title, kept his crown with a sixth-round knockout over William “Chirizo” Gonzalez of Panama.
Referee Jack Reiss halted the bout at 2:20 of the sixth round after Pagara unleashed a series of blows capped by a big right on Gonzalez sending the latter to the canvas to the delight of the highly-partisan Filipino crowd.
Pagara scored his first knockdown in the second round, but action stalled after he unintentionally punched his opponent who was still  down prompting referee Reiss to give Gonzalez a 5-minute reprieve. The win improved the young Pagara’s unblemished mark to 25 wins, no loss, 18 KOs.
Jason Pagara, for his part, scored three knockdowns in the second round against Nicaraguan Santos “El Toro” Benavidez, prompting referee Raul Caiz Sr. to stop the fight.
With the win, the older Pagara improved his mark to 37 wins, 2 losses with 23 KOs.
The most impressive performance, however, belonged to Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, who made mincemeat out of previously unbeaten Yardley Suarez in a bout between two undefeated fighters to defend his IBF Youth featherweight title.
Suarez was a defeated fighter right at the get-go, as he was reduced into target practice by Magsayo who chased him around like  spooked prey. The 20-year-old Magsayo scored two knockdowns in the second round to put away Suarez and give him his first career defeat. With the win, Magsayo improved to 12 wins, 0 loss, 10 KOs.
Fil-American Bruno Escalante, meanwhile, edged out Mexican Nestor Ramos via a six-round unanimous decision to improve his record to 14 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw, 6 KOs.

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