ALBERT Pagara is out in Dubai, helping up-and-coming Cuban star Jadier Herrera as a sparring partner for his upcoming fight next month.
Pagara will be in Dubai for two weeks to help Herrera in his preparation for his World Boxing Council (WBC) International super featherweight fight with Brit Jeff Ofori on May 13, 2023, at The Agenda Arena in Dubai.
“I was invited here to be his sparring partner,” Pagara told SunStar Cebu. “This will be a good experience for me. We also are fighting in the same weight division.”
The 20-year-old Herrera is a talented Cuban boxer that’s been making waves in Dubai. He’s currently ranked No. 7 in the WBC, wherein the current titleholder is O’Shaquie Foster.
Herrera is fresh from a third round knockout win over Pinoy veteran Harmonito Dela Torre last March 10. He also owns wins over Pinoy pugs Marjohn Yap and Eduardo Mancito.
The 33-year-old Ofori is a six-year veteran and is a former British Boxing Board of Control Southern Area lightweight champion. He’s faced the likes of Archie Sharp, Ohara Davies and Mark Chamberlain.
Ofori is coming off a decision win over patsie Lee Hallett last Feb. 11 in London.
Herrera is 10-0 with eight knockouts, while Ofori is 12-4-1 with three knockouts.
Pagara is one of the most promising Filipinos in his time under the now-defunct ALA Gym. After the closure of the ALA Gym in 2020, Pagara hasn’t fought that much. He just fought twice in a span of three years, fighting in two different weight divisions. He outclassed Virgil Puton by unanimous decision in 2020 in Mandaue City in a super featherweight fight and then stopped Allan Villanueva in fourth round in 2022 in Talisay City in a light welterweight contest.
Pagara is training under the guidance of Edmund Villamor at the Pagara Boxing Gym.
Pagara said that he’s also preparing for an upcoming fight in June.
Pagara is 34-1 with 24 knockouts.