Pagara, Magsayo seek impressive wins

“Prince” Albert Pagara. Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Unbeaten “Prince” Albert Pagara and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo aim to boost their world status with big victories when they co-headline Pinoy Pride 35: Stars of the Future on Feb. 27 at Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino.

Pagara (25-0, 18 knockouts) will battle Nicaraguan Yesner Talavera (15-3-1, 4 KOs) over 12 rounds for the WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight title while Magsayo will tangle with Mexican Eduardo Montoya (17-4-1, 13 KOs) over 10 rounds for the WBO Youth featherweight crown.

The 20-year-old Magsayo said he will go for the knockout while Pagara, 22, said he will wait for the opportunity to stop his foe to present itself in yesterday’s press conference.

“Suntukan agad (We’ll box right away,” said Magsayo, unimpressed with Montoya’s 13 KOs. “He seems to be weak in the middle section.”

“I’ve seen some of his (Talavera) fights,” Pagara said of Talavera. “He goes inside and out and is a switch hitter. I won’t predict a knockout, but I’ll go for it if I hurt him.”

If they fare well, Pagara and Magsayo are being lined by ALA Promotions president-CEO Michael Aldeguer for stints in ALA’s fight cards in the United States this year and world title fights next year.

Other rising prospects of the ALA stable are appearing in the fight card to be co-staged by ABS CBN Sports.