The Pagara brothers, Jason and Albert, yesterday looked forward to their first fight overseas, and both expressed confidence in knocking out their Mexican foes.
“Excited na kami (We’re excited),” said Jason, at 23 the older one.
The Pagaras faced the media on the eve of their departure. At noon today they will board a plane to Dubai for the “Duel in Dubai Part 2” on Aug. 7.
It’s the first time Jason and Albert, both undefeated, are fighting on foreign soil. They both said they’re going to Dubai to impress the fans.
“Madaming Filipino sa Dubai (There are many Filipinos in Dubai). Sana mapasaya namin sila (We hope to entertain them),” said the 21-year-old Albert.
The best way to make the fans happy, they said during lunch at a Quezon City restaurant, is to knock their Mexican opponents out.
Jason will face Ramiro Alcaraz in a junior-welterweight contest scheduled for 10 rounds while Albert meets Jesus Rios in a junior-featherweight clash.
Albert, with his cropped hair dyed gold, will defend his IBF Intercontinental crown against Rios for 12 rounds at the Dubai World Trade Center.
But the fight could end sooner than that.
The colorful IBF belt sat on the table in front of Albert. The way he held the belt as he got up he obviously doesn’t have plans of giving it up.
Albert, flamboyant and flashy in and out of the ring, has knocked out 16 of his 23 victims, and plans to add Rios (31-7-1 with 25 KOs) to the list.
“Ready na. Sana knockout,” he said.
Jason, 35-2 with 22 knockouts, was more vocal with his prediction.
“Pag natiyempuhan dapat tuluyan na (If I catch him I’ll finish him off),” he told scribes of his opponent, who’s 15-4 with nine knockouts.
“Siyempre gusto natin knockout (Of course, we want a knockout). Huwag lang first round para naman masaya tao (But not in the first round so the people will be happy),” he said.
“Siguro three rounds,” Jason added.
The Pagaras trained hard under the Edito and Edmond Villamor. Last week, due to lack of sparring partners, they ended up sparring against each other.
Yesterday, the Pagaras gamely posed before the cameras like they’re fighting each other.
Also featured in the card presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports is the hard-hitting Jimrex Jaca against another Mexican, Pablo Lugo Montiel.
Four other fights will complete the card that will take place in the hottest month in Dubai, where temperature runs in the low 40s.
Larry Abarra of the Philippines take on Tony Arema of Indonesia (122 lb); Deo Krizito of Uganda battles Fapech Manopchaigym of Thailand (140 lb); Lasisi Bamidele of Dubai meets Singnoi Singmansak of Thailand (118 lb); and Nicholas Mwangi of Dubai faces Mohammad Akram of Syria (135 lb).