Mexican seeks repeat win vs Pagara

CEBU, Philippines – Mexican power-hitter Rosbel Montoya expressed confidence of scoring a repeat win over ALA Boxing Gym mainstay Jason Pagara when they clash anew for the WBO International light welterweight title in the “Pinoy Pride XV: Philippines vs Mexico-The Rematch” this Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino here. 

“I knew for a long time that a rematch is going to happen so I prepare hard,” said Montoya in yesterday’s press conference 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.”

Montoya outclassed Pagara in their first encounter and fashioned out a unanimous decision victory with the Mexican confident of duplicating his feat 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, who packs a 36-4-1 record, including 30 KOs. “I hope to have a repeat so you will still remember me.”

Meanwhile, Pagara, with a 28-2 record, including 17 KOs, blamed his loss to some personal problems he had to deal with at that time.

“Pagara will face a new problem this time and it would be me,” said Montoya in jest.

He, however, refused to predict if Pagara would last the distance or not.

“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 undercard, the unbeaten ALA rising star Genesis “Azukal” Servania (18-0, 7 KOs) will take on Jorge “El Feroz” Pazos ( 21-3, 14 KOs) for the WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight crown.

The slambang fightcard 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, 19 KOs) against the young, but dangerous Angel “Arcangel” Martinez (18-2-1, 13 KOs).

In other bouts, it will be Mark Vincent Bernaldez vs Joash Aprericio; Juren Labordo vs Powell Balaba; Jojo Intor vs Peter Aldrin; and JP Artieda vs Hector Rojoca.

– Emmanuel Villaruel/Freeman News Service