Pinoy Pride 26 tonight at Waterfront: Pagara brothers take center stage

CEBU, Philippines - Considered as the hottest boxing siblings in the country, Jason 'El Niño' and 'Prince' Albert Pagara both promised to score a knockout against their respective Mexican foes in the ‘Pinoy Pride 26: Fists of the Future’ fightcard tonight at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Both rising stars in their divisions, the Pagara brothers want to show that they are ready for bigger fights and take one step closer to their dream of fighting for a world title.

Jason (33-2, 20KOs) will defend his WBO International light welterweight title against tough Mexican brawler Mario ‘Rocky’ Meraz (20-3, 16KOs), while Albert hopes to claim the vacant IBF Intercontinental light featherweight crown when he takes on Hugo ‘Olimpico’ Partida (21-4, 16KOs).

“We are strong when we fight together (in one card),” said Jason, who tipped in the scales at 139.5 lbs.,  a half pound heavier than Meraz.

“I am focused in winning my fight. It’s not an added pressure for me that my younger brother Albert is facing his own challenge because I trust him. Instead, he can gave me an added confidence if he is going to knock out his opponent first.”

Pagara, ranked No.4 by the WBO, hopes that a win will show that he is ripe and ready for a shot at the world title currently held by the undefeated American Chris Algieri.

“It still depends on my manager (ALA Promotions). I just want to give a good fight and hopefulyl come up with an impressive win this Saturday night (today),” said Jason.

For his part, Albert, who almost came to blow with his Mexican opponent during the weigh-in, also want to win via knockout and get his first ever regional championship belt.

“It was a bad move for him (Partida),” said Albert, who engaged in shoving and pushing against Partida during the mandatory staredown. “It’s good that he is aggressive but let us see inside the ring because I am now motivated to punish him.”

“I want to knock this guy (Partida) out because I think it would boost the confidence of my brother because s he fights after me,” Albert said. “I know my brother will be a world champion someday and that will make me believe that I can do it also.”

In the other feature of the slambang event presented by ALA Promotions in partnership with ABS-CBN Sports, former two-time world title challenger AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal (30-2, 21KOs) will face unbeaten Indonesian Defry ‘Hammer’ Palulu (10-0, 9KOs), while Jimrex Jaca (30-0, 22KOs) will battle Japanese Masayoshi Kotake (9-8, 5KOs). (FREEMAN)