ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer clarified that Jason Pagara didn’t leave the Cebu-based promotional company but was released because of his lack of discipline to make weight.
“Jason did not leave ALA Promotions, he still has a contract with us but we released him together with AJ Banal. They have been given their release papers. We wish them well and hope they could revive their careers elsewhere,” Aldeguer told SunStar Cebu. “In fact, ALA Promotions released a statement through our FB page and Twitter last Dec. 11 that we have released Jason Pagara.”
The 26-year-old Pagara earlier said that he parted ways with ALA Promotions after his contract with them ended. He signed with US-based Morris East along with Banal.
“We gave Jason his release papers last Dec. 14, 2018, His promotional contract will expire 2021 but we decided to release him,” Aldeguer said.
Pagara came in 2.5 pounds overweight in a World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific lightweight fight with Hiroki Okada. He lost to Okada via a sixth round stoppage two years ago in Japan.
Last year, in his latest fight, Pagara was 12 pounds overweight and had to wear 12-ounce gloves against Wellem Reyk, who he stopped in the third round, in Maasin City.
“We had no plans for him anymore. He could not get back into shape to meet the required fighting weight after he reported 12 pounds overweight in his last fight in Pinoy Pride 44 in Maasin and that was after being overweight in Japan. In ALA, we instill discipline as this is a dangerous sport. Our priority will always be the well-being of the fighter,” said Aldeguer. (EKA)