ALBERT Pagara hopes to continue his winning streak and keep his lofty world ranking for a possible world title shot soon.
Pagara is coming off a nine-month hiatus and will be taking on Thai knockout artist Ratchanon Sawangsoda on Aug. 17, 2019 in the main event of Pinoy Pride 46 in Ormoc City.
“I’m ready,” Pagara told SunStar Cebu.
The 25-year-old Pagara last saw action on Nov. 24, 2018 and scored an opening round knockout of George Krampah.
Pagara wants to get his title shot soon and has his sights on World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight titleholder Emmanuel Navarrete.
“I want Navarette,” he said.
Pagara is ranked No. 3 in the WBO, behind fellow Pinoys Marlon Tapales (No. 1) and Juan Miguel Elorde (No. 2).
Pagara is 31-1 with 22 knockouts, while Sawangsoda is 12-3 with 12 knockouts.
WBO No. 7 rated super bantamweight Jeo Santisima (17-2, 14 KOs) keeps himself busy against Indonesian Alvius Maufani (6-3-2, 3 KOs) in a 10-round co-main event.
The 23-year-old Santisima is coming off a long layoff after beating Mexican Victor Uriel Lopez by unanimous decision on Nov. 24, 2018. Maufani is fresh from a second round knockout defeat at the hands of Japanese Yamato Hata on May 4.
In the undercard, one-time world title challenger Jonas Sultan (15-5, 9 KOs) slugs it out with Salatiel Amit (11-6-2, 8 KOs) in what potentially could be the best fight of the night, World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 2 ranked minimumweight Melvin Jerusalem (14-2, 8 KOs) trades leathers with Reymark Taday (9-9-1, 4 KOs), Esneth Domingo (11-1, 6 KOs) looks to bounce back from his first career loss as he takes on Belmar Plaza (4-11-3, 2 KOs), Lorenz Ladrada (6-0-1, 2 KOs) faces off with Rimon Rama (6-2-1, 4 KOs), and Jhon May Acope makes his pro debut against newcomer Anthony Desabille. (EKA)