Jayson cautious; Albert going for knockout

CEBU CITY—Jayson Pagara will take a cautious stand, but younger brother Albert wants to mix it up right away when they tangle with Mexican opponents tonight in “Pinoy Pride 26: Fists of the Future” at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Though he’s eager to trade punches with Mario Meraz, Jayson said he won’t rush and instead use the first round to probe the mettle of his rival in their 12-round battle for the World Boxing Organization international light welterweight crown.

Albert, on the other hand, is raring to engage Hugo Partida right away in order to find out who’ll be able to withstand each other’s bombs in their 12-round showdown for the vacant  International Boxing Federation intercontinental junior featherweight title.

After the official weigh-in at Robinson’s Mall here, Jayson said he’s inspired to headline the fight card jointly initiated by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports and doesn’t want to disappoint his countrymen longing for new boxing heroes.

“I’m so pumped up to fight. I feel hot,” the 21-year-old Jayson (33 wins, 2 losses, 20 KOs) said in Filipino after making the weight at 139.5 pounds. “Even my hands feel hot.”

On the other hand, both Albert and Partida checked in at 122 lb.

Other matches to be televised today starting at 10:45 a.m. in ABS-CBN are the AJ Banal-Defry Halulu clash for 10 rounds at 124  pounds and the Jimrex Jaca-Masayoshi Kotake duel for eight rounds at 141 lb.