Mexicans vow to destroy Pagara brothers in PP26

CEBU, Philippines -  Mexican brawler Mario ‘Rocky’ Meraz (20-3, 16KOs) knows that he has what it takes to derail the championship dream of Jason ‘El Niño’ Pagara (33-2, 20KOs), even vowing to destroy the ALA Gym stalwart when they clash in the main event of ‘Pinoy Pride 26: Fists of the Future’ this Saturday night at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Meraz does not only want to seize Pagara's WBO International light welterweight title, he also want to embarrass the Filipino world title prospect in front of his countrymen.

“I can stop him (Pagara),” said Meraz in a press conference yesterday at the Rajah Park Hotel. “Just like him, I am also hungry for a shot at the world title and I will show it on Saturday.”

Though he considers Pagara as the toughest fight of his career, Meraz said he is  ready to pull an upset over the ALA warrior.

“He can fall, I can fall. It will be a war inside the ring and I assure you, knockout will come,” said Meraz, who won nine of his fights via first round stoppage.

Meraz even advised Pagara not to look past him after learning that the ALA boxer is already thinking about his chance of going up against the elite fighters in the 140 lbs. division.

“He must focus on me first. I have seen few fights of Pagara and I already knew what to do when I finally face him,” he added.

On the other hand, Meraz's felllow countryman Hugo ‘Olimpico’ Partida (21-4, 16KOs) also made a bold claim that he will hand  ‘Prince’ Albert Pagara’s (20-0, 14KOs) his first defeat as they battle in the supporting main event for the IBF Intercontinenal light featherweight crown.

“I know that he (Albert) is young, but it will be a disadvantage for him because I am going to use my experience to defeat him,” said Partida.

In other attractions, former two-time world title challenger AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal (30-2, 21KOs) will slug it out with the unbeaten Indonesian Defry ‘Hammer’ Palulu (10-0, 9KOs), while Jimrex Jaca (30-0, 22KOs) will take on Japanese Masayoshi Kotake (9-8, 5KOs).

All the protagonists of the slambang card will face each other for the first time during the final press conference this afternoon at the Aegean room of Waterfront Hotel. (FREEMAN)