CEBU, Philippines - Mexican power-hitter Rosbel 'Lobo' Montoya (36-4-1, 30KOs) expressed confidence of scoring a repeat performance over ALA Boxing Gym mainstay Jason "El Nino" Pagara (28-2, 17KOs) when they clash anew for the WBO International light welterweight tilt topbilling the keenly-waited "Pinoy Pride XV:Philippines vs. Mexico-The Rematch" this Saturday night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Montoya said he has already anticipated that this return bout is going to happen and that he trained hard to prove that his previous victory over Pagara is no fluke.
"I knew for a long time that a rematch is going to happen so I prepare hard," said Montoya in a press conference yesterday at Mooon Cafe in Cebu IT Park. "This fight is very important for me. It's like a championship and I'm here to win."
During their first encounter on September 10 last year at the plush hotel, Montoya clearly outclassed Pagara on the way to a well-deserved unanimous decision win.
And Montoya is primed and ready to launch a second strike against the Cagayan de Oro City fighter.
"I'm very happy to have won the first fight and because of that, you remember me well," said Montoya. "I hope to have a repeat so you will still remember me," the Mexican added, drawing a hearty laugh from the amused sportswriters.
When pressed for comment on Pagara's statement that he lost during their previous meeting because he was dealing with some personal problems at that time, Montoya quickly replied that "Pagara will face a new problem this time and it would be me."
Montoya was reluctant though to predict a knockout saying that it would just come if there's a chance.
"Let's just wait for the fight. If it's a knockout, it would be a knockout but I don't know what round," said Montoya.
In the co-feature of the action-packed extravaganza, the unbeaten ALA rising star Genesis "Azukal" Servania (18-0, 7KOs) will take on Jorge "El Feroz" Pazos ( 21-3, 14KOs) for the WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight crown.
The slambang show presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports also marks the ring comeback of former two-division OPBF champion Jimrex "The Executioner" Jaca (34-6-3, 19KOs) against the young, but dangerous Angel "Arcangel" Martinez (18-2-1, 13KOs).
The rest of the card features Mark Vincent Bernaldez vs. Joash Aprericio; Juren Labordo vs. Powell Balaba; Jojo Intor vs. Peter Aldrin; and JP Artieda vs. Hector Rojoca. (FREEMAN)