Pagara fights old foe

IT HAS been years since talented youngster Jason Pagara began fighting Asians, Africans and lesser-known Mexican warriors. And for him to move up to the next level, he has to show his handlers that he is something special.

Since a unanimous-decision loss to Rey Olarte over five years ago, Pagara has shown promise with an impressive winning romp that at one time even caught the attention of one of the biggest promoters in the world, Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.

However, last year, in a fight that he was favored to win, the 22-year-old Pagara’s career surge was stopped by an unknown Mexican fighter in Rosbel Montoya.

That same Mexican warrior is coming back to Cebu next month to trade leathers with Pagara in a much anticipated rematch, a fight that is crucial for the future of the young Cagayan de Oro native.

“He’s training very intensely. I’ve never seen him so focused, as he knows it will be a make-or-break fight for him,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.

Big fight

Pagara and Montoya are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) International light welterweight strap on Aug. 18 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino for the latest installment of the successful Pinoy Pride boxing series.

All eyes will be on Pagara because this is the first time in his career that he will be slated in the main event of a big boxing show.

“He has to win impressively to show the fans that he deserves to be recognized as one of the top fighters in the Philippines, as we plan to do an international tour and bring Pinoy Pride to the US and the Middle East next year, or there may be a possibility to do a co-promotion with Top Rank as what I have discussed with Bob Arum last year,” said the young Cebuano promoter.

Unbeaten prospect Genesis Servania and former world title challenger Jimrex Jaca are also scheduled to see action on the same event against a pair of Mexicans.