MAIN EVENT. ALA Promotions International President and CEO Michael Aldeguer is flanked by the main event fighters of this Saturday’s Pinoy Pride 35: Stars of the Future “Prince” Albert Pagara and his Nicaraguan opponent Yesner Talavera. The two will fight for the WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight belt.
(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Pagara, foe vow to win Saturday fight
The main protagonists of Pinoy Pride 35: Stars of the Future vowed to give their all is only to get their hands on the coveted WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight title in Saturday’s main event fight at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
ALA Boxing Gym’s “Prince” Albert Pagara (25-0, 18KOs) told the media during yesterday’s final press conference at the Aegean Room of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, that he is more than ready to take on what Nicaraguan Yesner Talavera (15-3-1,4KOs) will bring to the table on fight night.
“He’s got to prove what he says inside the ring or it will happen the other way around. He said he’ll teach me a boxing lesson. Let’s see if he can do that,” the unbeaten Pagara said with a dose of sarcasm.
The Nicaraguan slugger earlier told the press that he will use his speed and superior technique to teach Pagara a boxing lesson. To which Pagara retorted, “I’m very excited to climb the ring, I wish we could already slug it out here.”
There is so much at stake in this fight for the 23-year-old Pagara, the reigning IBF super bantamweight king who is ranked No. 2 in his division as he is also tapped to headline ALA Promotions’ second US stint scheduled this July in San Francisco.
Pagara’s promoter and ALA Promotions chief, Michael Aldeguer revealed that he just arrived from the US where he finalized the July card.
Talavera however, warned Pagara’s camp that they should not look too far ahead as he is out to spoil the fun.
“Let’s see what happens on the 27th. They should not talk too much about Pagara’s future because we still have a fight to finish,” said Talavera who boasted of a rigid training under the supervision of former world champion Rosendo Alvarez. He said he expects to knock Pagara out.
If Pagara hurdles Talavera, he will boost his chances of challenging for a world title possibly against Britons Scott Quigg, the reigning WBA world super bantamweight champion or IBF super bantamweight king Carl Frampton. Frampton and Quigg will also fight this Saturday in England.
“He’s been on the horizon. He always wants to fight for a world title but right now we are more focused for Saturday night. I hope he’ll do well,” said Aldeguer.
READY FOR WAR
IBF youth featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (12-0,10KOs) is very confident that he’ll finish Mexican Eduardo “Fierita” Montoya (13-4-1,13KOs) early in the co-main event with the WBO Youth Featherweight strap at stake. “I’m very sure that I will win this fight,” said Magsayo.
The undercard bouts pit Kevin Jake Cataraja (2-0, 2KOs) vs. Mexican Tony Rodriguez (3-1, 1KO); Melvin Jerusalem vs. former world champion Florante Condes; Jeo Santisima vs. Marco Demecillo; Elmo Traya vs. Romeo Jakosalem; Singaporean Muhammad Ridhwan vs. Melchor Roda and Esneth Domingo vs. Vic Ejercito.
The card’s official weigh is set today at the Robinson’s Galleria Cebu at 11 a.m.