Pinoy Pride 37: Pagara battles Juarez Sunday

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

WHETHER “Prince” Albert Pagara can be a king of the ring someday will be largely known Sunday.

The unbeaten Filipino prospect stakes his World Boxing Organization intercontinental super bantamweight crown against Mexican banger Cesar Juarez Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in the headliner of Pinoy Pride 37: Fists of the Future at San Mateo Event Center in San Mateo, California.

A convincing win will line Pagara up for a possible world title crack, while a loss of any form will becloud his capability to become champion of the 122-pound division.

Pagara (26-0 with 18 knockouts) knows this, that’s why he’d poured it all in training, thoroughly studied the style of Juarez and made sure that his well-chiseled body is in tiptop shape.

No wonder, the 22-year-old pride of Maasin City, Leyte, breezed through the official weigh-in held Friday afternoon at Serramonte Mall in Daly City, tipping the scales at 121.2 pounds.

The 24-year-old Juarez (17-5, 13 KOs) checked in with the same weight, but had to run for half an hour to make it, according to Philboxing.

Having put premium on speed, stamina and footwork in over two months of training, Pagara said he’s ready for whatever Juarez will try to do in their 12-round bout.

Juarez, on the other hand, swears he’s in much better form than when he fought and gave Nonito Donaire Jr. ample trouble before dropping a decision last December.

Jason Pagara, Albert’s elder brother, will tangle with Mexican Abraham Alvarez in a welterweight encounter.

Jason (38-2, 23 KOs) weighed in at 146 lb, while Alvarez (21-9-1, 10KOs) was right on the dot at 147.

Pinoy Pride 37, a collaborative effort between Ala promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, will be shown locally today. Roy Luarca