Pinoy prospects invade United States

MANILA, Philippines - Three promising Filipino fighters will make their US debut with WBO lightflyweight champion Donnie Nietes in the Pinoy Pride 33 card at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California, on Oct. 17 with ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN teaming up to stage the first-ever Filipino bill on American soil.

Superbantamweight Albert Pagara, superlightweight Jason Pagara and featherweight Mark Magsayo are now training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles with the goal of creating a stir to impress Top Rank chairman Bob Arum into giving them a chance for a future pay-per-view event.

The Pagara brothers are from Cagayan de Oro and learned how to box from their father Reynaldo, a mason by profession. Albert began boxing at 9 and dominated the amateur ranks with victories at the National Open and Palarong Pambansa before turning pro in 2011 at 16. Jason was 8 when he started to box and turned pro in 2006 at 14.

Albert, 21, has a 24-0 record, with 17 KOs while Jason, 23, is 36-2, with 22 KOs. They made their overseas debut in Dubai last August. Now, they’re invading the US and a big win will open up doors for the brothers. Albert will take on Nicaragua’s William Gonzalez while Jason battles Santos Benavides, also of Nicaragua. Gonzalez’ record is 27-5, with 23 KOs, and Benavides’ mark is 25-7-2, with 19 KOs.

Magsayo, 20, has an 11-0 record, with 9 KOs, and it’s his first fight abroad. He’ll be tested by Mexico’s Yardley Suarez who’s also unbeaten with a 13-0 mark, including 8 KOs.

“I’m not nervous,” said Albert in Pilipino. “I’m excited. In Dubai, I hardly perspired. I knocked out Jesus Rios in one round, I don’t know much about Gonzalez but I’m prepared to do what it takes to win. My toughest opponent so far was Mexican Raul Hirales whom I beat on points over 12 rounds last year. I prefer an opponent who comes forward because I like to engage.”

Albert said sparring with former world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. in Cebu made him a tougher fighter. “I learned a lot from Donaire,” he said. “He’s quick, experienced and strong. He has very good footwork. His hook is powerful and he doesn’t get tired. Whether I’m ready for a world title shot or not is up to Sir ALA (Tony Aldeguer) and Sir Michael (Aldeguer). Of the four superbantamweight champions, I could fight the IBF’s Carl Frampton, WBC’s Leo Santa Cruz and WBA’s Scott Quigg right now. Santa Cruz is an aggressive fighter so I won’t have problems hitting him. Frampton and Quigg are typical English boxers. The only champion whom I think I still have to prepare for is WBO’s Guillermo Rigondeaux. Maybe, I’ll be ready for Rigondeaux after four or five more tune-up fights.”

Jason said he realizes the 140-pound division is loaded with talent. “I’m confident in my training,” he said. “I’ve had 38 fights so I think I’m ready to go for a world title. I watched IBF champion Cesar Cuenca in Macau when he beat Ik Yang. He’s beatable. I think the WBA and WBC titles are vacant so I hope I get a chance to fight for either one. The WBO champion is Terence Crawford and I know he’s very talented and might even fight Manny Pacquiao next. All I know is whenever my manager wants me to be ready, I’ll be ready.”

Jason said he was out of focus in losing to Mexico’s Rosbel Montoya in Cebu in September 2011. In a rematch the next year, Jason stopped Montoya in six. “I had financial problems on my mind when I fought Montoya the first time,” he said. “Albert and I take care of the education of our three sisters and brother Gerard who’s in Grade 6. We didn’t have enough money to pay for their tuition so I couldn’t concentrate on my fight. But that’s over with. I got my focus back and I beat Montoya in a return bout.”

Jason weighed 142 1/2 pounds in beating Ramiro Alcaraz in Dubai last August but said he doesn’t find it difficult to keep within the superlightweight limit of 140. “I can fight anyone at 140,” he said. “I know there are tough guys in our division like Ruslan Provodnikov and Lucas Matthysse but if I work hard in the gym and prepare, I can beat anyone.”

The Pagaras finished only up to third year of high school but they plan to enroll in the Department of Education’s ALS (Alternative Learning System) program to become eligible for college. Albert, who dyes his hair blond, said it’s his trademark and he’ll make sure he has an appointment at a hair salon before his fight.

Magsayo, a high school graduate, left his home in Bohol to join the ALA stable in Cebu. Nicknamed “Magnifico,” Magsayo said he’s a fan of ALA fighters like Boom Boom Bautista, A. J. Banal, Nietes and the Pagaras. Younger brother Jesnel, 15, is an aspiring amateur.

“When I fight, the fans expect me to score a quick knockout but I’m not rushing it,” he said. “I rely on my conditioning more than my power. If there’s an opportunity to go for a knockout, of course, I’ll go for it. But it’s not my priority. I’ve fought two Koreans so far (Moon Sun Jung and Hyuk Tak Joo) and while I won, they showed me how important it is to be patient. They ran around so I used my boxing skills instead of my power to wear them down. It will be my first time to fight abroad so I’m hoping to make a strong showing.”