ALBERT PAGARA WILLING TO FACE ANY FOE
By Maloney L. Samaco
With the cancellation of his fight against Mexican former world champion Juan Carlos Sanchez, ALA Gym standout Albert Pagara is willing to face any foe that will be contracted by his boss Michael Aldeguer as a substitute opponent.
Sanchez had a contractual problem with his agent and ALA Promotions did not want to deal with complicated fighters. "We may not push through with Sanchez for Pagara on February 27. He has contract problems with his representatives and we don't want any complications," Aldeguer was quoted by Sunstar Cebu.
Still Pinoy Pride 35 billed "Stars of the Future" will push through at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino. It will also feature undefeated boxers Mark Magsayo and Kevin Jake Cataraja.
"I trained very hard and had reduced 10 pounds to prepare for Sanchez. I was a bit saddened with the withdrawal of my opponent," said Pagara in a phone conversation with this writer. "They are looking for a substitute, preferably a Mexican, and I'm willing to face any fighter."
"The change in challenger did not hamper my determination to train rigidly," continued Pagara who is a fast-rising star in the No. 1 boxing stable in the country.
The Maasin-born undefeated pugilist is aiming for a world title fight. Sanchez would have been a very ideal stepping stone for his global dream. Pagara is rated No. 6 by The Ring in the junior featherweight/superbantamweight division.
Prince Pagara is also rated No. 8 by the WBC, No. 3 by the IBF and No. 4 by the WBO in the whole world. Boxrec listed him as the No. 8 boxer in his division. He has 25 wins with no defeat no draw and 18 KO wins with a 72% knockout rate.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Thursday, January 7, 2016
ALBERT PAGARA WORLD'S TOP PROSPECT IN THE SUPERBANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION
ALBERT PAGARA WORLD'S TOP PROSPECT IN THE SUPERBANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION
By Maloney L. Samaco
Prince Albert Pagara, the WBO Youth intercontinental superbantamweight champion and IBF intercontinental superbantamweight champion, will face tough Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. on February 27, 2016 in the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City.
Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook described the younger Pagara: "Pagara, 21, is really still a prospect as much as a contender... But this is a good looking young fighter starting to make moves in this division. He's beaten a bunch of veteran guys, including Rodolfo Hernandez, Jesus Rios, and William Gonzalez this year, stopping all three. Obviously none of those are HUGE wins, but he's on his way."
He listed his top five prospects in this division as follows:
1. Albert Pagara (25-0, 18 KO), Philippines
2. Jonathan Guzman (20-0, 20 KO), Dominican Rep.
3. Diego De La Hoya (13-0, 7 KO), Mexico
4. Manuel Avila (19-0, 8 KO), USA
5. Ryo Matsumoto (17-0, 15 KO), Japan
Former IBF super flyweight champion Sanchez, the 24-year-old native of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico has a record of 20-4-1 with 9 knockouts with 36% KO rate. He lost to Cesar Juarez by a unanimous decision in the WBO international superbantamweight title fight.
“He was rated number three until he lost in a close decision to Cesar Juarez, the opponent of Nonito Donaire Jr., for the number one spot in the rankings. Albert (Pagara) needs to go through tough opponents and Sanchez should give him the test he needs,” said Aldeguer as quoted by Cebu Daily News.
Veteran boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz indicated that Pagara, with a 72% KO rate, will battle in a crucial fight against Sanchez. "Prince Albert who engaged Donaire in a terrific sparring session at the ALA Gym in Cebu when they were both preparing for fights, is expected to face an acid test against the Mexican southpaw," wrote Nathanielsz in Boxing Scene.
"I am not afraid of Sanchez being a former world champion," said Pagara. "I'll do my very best to win impressively to get a world title shot."
The Maasin City-born Pagara is now rated No. 6 in The Ring rankings in the superbantamweight division. He is the youngest among the Ring contenders in this division. Donaire is No. 3 while Genesis Servania is No. 4. Guillermo Rigondeaux is the champion in this category.
Undefeated boxer Mark Magsayo will take on Mexican fighter Eduardo Montoya in the supporting event. Other ALA unbeaten boxers KJ Cataraja and Melvin Jerusalem will be featured in the undercard.
Photo shows Albert Pagara with the writer in a visit at the ALA Gym Cebu.
By Maloney L. Samaco
Prince Albert Pagara, the WBO Youth intercontinental superbantamweight champion and IBF intercontinental superbantamweight champion, will face tough Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. on February 27, 2016 in the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City.
Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook described the younger Pagara: "Pagara, 21, is really still a prospect as much as a contender... But this is a good looking young fighter starting to make moves in this division. He's beaten a bunch of veteran guys, including Rodolfo Hernandez, Jesus Rios, and William Gonzalez this year, stopping all three. Obviously none of those are HUGE wins, but he's on his way."
He listed his top five prospects in this division as follows:
1. Albert Pagara (25-0, 18 KO), Philippines
2. Jonathan Guzman (20-0, 20 KO), Dominican Rep.
3. Diego De La Hoya (13-0, 7 KO), Mexico
4. Manuel Avila (19-0, 8 KO), USA
5. Ryo Matsumoto (17-0, 15 KO), Japan
Former IBF super flyweight champion Sanchez, the 24-year-old native of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico has a record of 20-4-1 with 9 knockouts with 36% KO rate. He lost to Cesar Juarez by a unanimous decision in the WBO international superbantamweight title fight.
“He was rated number three until he lost in a close decision to Cesar Juarez, the opponent of Nonito Donaire Jr., for the number one spot in the rankings. Albert (Pagara) needs to go through tough opponents and Sanchez should give him the test he needs,” said Aldeguer as quoted by Cebu Daily News.
Veteran boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz indicated that Pagara, with a 72% KO rate, will battle in a crucial fight against Sanchez. "Prince Albert who engaged Donaire in a terrific sparring session at the ALA Gym in Cebu when they were both preparing for fights, is expected to face an acid test against the Mexican southpaw," wrote Nathanielsz in Boxing Scene.
"I am not afraid of Sanchez being a former world champion," said Pagara. "I'll do my very best to win impressively to get a world title shot."
The Maasin City-born Pagara is now rated No. 6 in The Ring rankings in the superbantamweight division. He is the youngest among the Ring contenders in this division. Donaire is No. 3 while Genesis Servania is No. 4. Guillermo Rigondeaux is the champion in this category.
Undefeated boxer Mark Magsayo will take on Mexican fighter Eduardo Montoya in the supporting event. Other ALA unbeaten boxers KJ Cataraja and Melvin Jerusalem will be featured in the undercard.
Photo shows Albert Pagara with the writer in a visit at the ALA Gym Cebu.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
MAASIN CITY SPORTS 2015 YEARENDER PART II
MAASIN CITY SPORTS 2015 YEARENDER PART II
By Maloney L. Samaco
The National Youth Games of the Philippine Sports Commission also known as Batang Pinoy conducted its Visayas Qualifying Leg 2015 in this island municipality of Romblon also the capital town of the Province of Romblon. It started with the Opening Parade and Ceremony on August 23 at Romblon National High School Track and Field Oval.
Maasin City sent about 60 athletes, and coaches/officials. We joined the competition in athletics, swimming, boxing, arnis, badminton, lawn tennis, chess, sepak takraw, and taekwondo. I was the only local chief executive who accompanied the visiting athletes to give them morale booster. Maasin City athletes won 9 golds, 12 silvers and 28 bronzes and placed 8th among 37 LGU's behind Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Leyte, Aklan, Iloilo Province, Negros Occidental and Escalante City.
"Prince" Albert Pagara successfully knocked his Nicaraguan opponent William "Chirizo" Gonzalez out in the sixth round of the initial ALA Boxing Promotions offering in the United States. The country rejoiced as the aspiring young boxing star made a sensational stoppage of the grizzled foe to win the World Boxing Organization intercontinental junior featherweight title during the Pinoy Pride 33rd edition in Carson City, California on October 18, 2015 (Philippine time).
But the Maasin City fans were all astonished when ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. announced that Albert Pagara was from Cebu City, Cebu instead of Maasin City, Southern Leyte. Later Albert posted in his Facebook account that he was so sorry for the incident and he did not know about it.
His FB post dated October 18, 2015 at 1:57 PM: "salamat kaau sa manga fans ug sori kaau sa taga maasin city kay dli jud ako nagbotang ato sayop lang to sila mayor MaloneyChona Samaco sori kaau sila rai nag boot ug botang ato sori." (I thank all the fans and sorry to all people of Maasin City because I was not the one who placed it. They committed an error mayor MaloneyChona Samaco [my FB account] so sorry. It was their decision, again sorry.)
Pagara was warmly welcomed on October 30 by the people of Maasin City, Southern Leyte. A motorcade around the poblacion of the city showed how the citizens of this capital city of Southern Leyte loved their local boxing hero. The motorcade was accompanied by some fifty cyclists from Maasin City which started at the city hall going to the provincial capitol then to his home barangay in Lib-og where he was born. The route include the terminal and public market, the commercial centers, the public plaza then back to the city hall.
Some 23,000 scouts joined the week-long 16th National Scout Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in Tagum City, Davao del Norte which began on October 24, 2015. Vice President Jejomar Binay, President Boy Scouts of the Philippines, was the keynote speaker while Congressman Manny Pacquiao inspired the boys and some girls with their adult leaders. Pacquiao's presence was a proof that scouting like sports develop the youth to become good and disciplined citizens and let them stay away from harmful vices.
Heavy rains did not threaten the hearts of the scouts as they braved the downpour and thunderstorms which soaked the participants, including this writer who led the 130-member delegation of Southern Leyte, during the opening parade and program at the Energy Park, the main venue of the Jamboree.
Some 1,000 athletes and officials joined the Philippine National Games Visayas Qualifying Leg which opened last Tuesday at the Evelio B. Javier Memorial Sports Complex in San Jose de Buenavista, capital town of the Province of Antique. This writer led the 60 athletes and officials of Maasin City which sent entries in archery, boxing, swimming, badminton, billiards, taekwando, chess, muay thai, pencak selat and athletics. Maasin City won 8 golds, 9 silvers, and 18 bronze medals.
Adones Aguelo was able to land a fight for the first time in Las Vegas, Nevada when he fought undefeated Casey Ramos of Austin, Texas. However, Aguelo lost an eight-round unanimous decision in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas, USA. Judges Burt Clements, Richard Ocasio, and Tim Cheatham all scored 72-80 for Ramos. Aguelo married his girlfriend En-en on September 26, 2015 in Matalom, Leyte in which this writer was one of the principal sponsors.
The city government of Maasin once again sponsored a Boxing Showdown Monday night at Barangay Asuncion Gymnasium in connection with the Birthday of Congressman Damian Mercado. The encounter was participated in by amateur boxers of Tacloban, Abuyog, Matag-ob and Matalom of Leyte and Malitbog and host Maasin City of Southern Leyte. It was held in Asuncion in time for their coming fiesta on Saturday November 28, 2015. The Southern Leyte Boxing Association, which I headed, officiated the 17 bouts.
Some 5,000 athletes and officials converged this city during the opening of the Philippine National Youth Games or Batang Pinoy National Championships in Cebu City on November 27, 2015. The participants were the medalists during the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Qualifying Legs which were held at Malolos, Romblon and Koronadal, respectively. I attended the solidarity meeting of the officials and joined our Maasin City delegation of 60 athletes, coaches and officials during the parade and opening rites at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Maasin boxer Jhayvee Donaire won the gold medal in boxing kids minimumweight division. Roy Jones Cisostomo got the bronze in boxing school boys paperweight division. Team Maasin pep squad won the cheerdance gold, cheerleading silver and all-male stunts silver medal. They were featured by Kara David on "iWitness" over GMA7.
The Boy Scouts of the Philippines Southern Leyte Council conducted its Scouts Christmas Council Jamboree 2015 on December 3-6, 2015 at Camp Danao, City Forest Park, Maasin City, Southern Leyte. Some scouts and scouters started fetching their tents and built their camps a day before the opening. Camp Danao is a 320-hectare forest reserve managed by the City Government of Maasin. The actual number of registered entrants numbered 2,100 which far exceeded our expectations.
Happy Healthy and Sporty New Year to one and all!
By Maloney L. Samaco
The National Youth Games of the Philippine Sports Commission also known as Batang Pinoy conducted its Visayas Qualifying Leg 2015 in this island municipality of Romblon also the capital town of the Province of Romblon. It started with the Opening Parade and Ceremony on August 23 at Romblon National High School Track and Field Oval.
Maasin City sent about 60 athletes, and coaches/officials. We joined the competition in athletics, swimming, boxing, arnis, badminton, lawn tennis, chess, sepak takraw, and taekwondo. I was the only local chief executive who accompanied the visiting athletes to give them morale booster. Maasin City athletes won 9 golds, 12 silvers and 28 bronzes and placed 8th among 37 LGU's behind Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Leyte, Aklan, Iloilo Province, Negros Occidental and Escalante City.
"Prince" Albert Pagara successfully knocked his Nicaraguan opponent William "Chirizo" Gonzalez out in the sixth round of the initial ALA Boxing Promotions offering in the United States. The country rejoiced as the aspiring young boxing star made a sensational stoppage of the grizzled foe to win the World Boxing Organization intercontinental junior featherweight title during the Pinoy Pride 33rd edition in Carson City, California on October 18, 2015 (Philippine time).
But the Maasin City fans were all astonished when ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. announced that Albert Pagara was from Cebu City, Cebu instead of Maasin City, Southern Leyte. Later Albert posted in his Facebook account that he was so sorry for the incident and he did not know about it.
His FB post dated October 18, 2015 at 1:57 PM: "salamat kaau sa manga fans ug sori kaau sa taga maasin city kay dli jud ako nagbotang ato sayop lang to sila mayor MaloneyChona Samaco sori kaau sila rai nag boot ug botang ato sori." (I thank all the fans and sorry to all people of Maasin City because I was not the one who placed it. They committed an error mayor MaloneyChona Samaco [my FB account] so sorry. It was their decision, again sorry.)
Pagara was warmly welcomed on October 30 by the people of Maasin City, Southern Leyte. A motorcade around the poblacion of the city showed how the citizens of this capital city of Southern Leyte loved their local boxing hero. The motorcade was accompanied by some fifty cyclists from Maasin City which started at the city hall going to the provincial capitol then to his home barangay in Lib-og where he was born. The route include the terminal and public market, the commercial centers, the public plaza then back to the city hall.
Some 23,000 scouts joined the week-long 16th National Scout Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in Tagum City, Davao del Norte which began on October 24, 2015. Vice President Jejomar Binay, President Boy Scouts of the Philippines, was the keynote speaker while Congressman Manny Pacquiao inspired the boys and some girls with their adult leaders. Pacquiao's presence was a proof that scouting like sports develop the youth to become good and disciplined citizens and let them stay away from harmful vices.
Heavy rains did not threaten the hearts of the scouts as they braved the downpour and thunderstorms which soaked the participants, including this writer who led the 130-member delegation of Southern Leyte, during the opening parade and program at the Energy Park, the main venue of the Jamboree.
Some 1,000 athletes and officials joined the Philippine National Games Visayas Qualifying Leg which opened last Tuesday at the Evelio B. Javier Memorial Sports Complex in San Jose de Buenavista, capital town of the Province of Antique. This writer led the 60 athletes and officials of Maasin City which sent entries in archery, boxing, swimming, badminton, billiards, taekwando, chess, muay thai, pencak selat and athletics. Maasin City won 8 golds, 9 silvers, and 18 bronze medals.
Adones Aguelo was able to land a fight for the first time in Las Vegas, Nevada when he fought undefeated Casey Ramos of Austin, Texas. However, Aguelo lost an eight-round unanimous decision in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas, USA. Judges Burt Clements, Richard Ocasio, and Tim Cheatham all scored 72-80 for Ramos. Aguelo married his girlfriend En-en on September 26, 2015 in Matalom, Leyte in which this writer was one of the principal sponsors.
The city government of Maasin once again sponsored a Boxing Showdown Monday night at Barangay Asuncion Gymnasium in connection with the Birthday of Congressman Damian Mercado. The encounter was participated in by amateur boxers of Tacloban, Abuyog, Matag-ob and Matalom of Leyte and Malitbog and host Maasin City of Southern Leyte. It was held in Asuncion in time for their coming fiesta on Saturday November 28, 2015. The Southern Leyte Boxing Association, which I headed, officiated the 17 bouts.
Some 5,000 athletes and officials converged this city during the opening of the Philippine National Youth Games or Batang Pinoy National Championships in Cebu City on November 27, 2015. The participants were the medalists during the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Qualifying Legs which were held at Malolos, Romblon and Koronadal, respectively. I attended the solidarity meeting of the officials and joined our Maasin City delegation of 60 athletes, coaches and officials during the parade and opening rites at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Maasin boxer Jhayvee Donaire won the gold medal in boxing kids minimumweight division. Roy Jones Cisostomo got the bronze in boxing school boys paperweight division. Team Maasin pep squad won the cheerdance gold, cheerleading silver and all-male stunts silver medal. They were featured by Kara David on "iWitness" over GMA7.
The Boy Scouts of the Philippines Southern Leyte Council conducted its Scouts Christmas Council Jamboree 2015 on December 3-6, 2015 at Camp Danao, City Forest Park, Maasin City, Southern Leyte. Some scouts and scouters started fetching their tents and built their camps a day before the opening. Camp Danao is a 320-hectare forest reserve managed by the City Government of Maasin. The actual number of registered entrants numbered 2,100 which far exceeded our expectations.
Happy Healthy and Sporty New Year to one and all!
Friday, January 1, 2016
PACQUIAO VS. BRADLEY III: THE PPV RATIONALE
PACQUIAO VS. BRADLEY III: THE PPV RATIONALE
By Maloney L. Samaco
It's Timothy Bradley, the reigning WBO welterweight champion, for the third time against Manny Pacquiao. The main reason is Bradley could give more pay-per-view buys than Amir Khan or WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford.
While Pacquiao is rated no. 7 by The Ring pound-for-pound, the longest fighter to be listed in the top 10 for more than twelve years, Bradley is ranked no. 10. Crawford is at No. 6, a notch higher than Pacquiao.
"What HBO said was how Amir Khan didn’t resonate with them at all,” Arum was quoted by the Las Vegas Review Journal. “Yeah, he would do some pay-per-view business in England, but they didn’t think he was an attraction in the United States.”
Arum said all of the options were presented to Pacquiao including the recommendations of the stakeholders and the final pick was Bradley. The trilogy could generate more audience interests than Khan or Crawford.
"We all gave Pacquiao an input," Arum continued. "From the cable companies, the satellite providers, MGM, it was about who is the strongest opponent from a marketable standpoint, and we outlined everything for him and we were down to three choices and Pacquiao thought Bradley was the one that made the most sense."
Arum's analysis was that the frustrations of the viewers on the ballyhooed Fight of the Century with Floyd Mayweather could affect the sales of the trilogy with Bradley. "Of course, I understand the reaction to the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is going to impact us. Clearly, yes. There is no question about that," Arum explained to Yahoo Sports.
"Will we do the same numbers for the first two Bradley fights? Probably not. We're going to try to come as close as we can, and hopefully exceed it, but I understand what we're up against. I've run my numbers and I have done my math. I'm not out here with my head up my ass."
"Crawford doesn’t have a large fan base outside of Nebraska, his home state," Chris Wiliams of Boxing News 24 declared. He estimated a Pacquiao-Crawford fight could bring a maximum of 400,000 PPV buys.
It was projected to be of the same level as the fight with Chris Algieri or Brandon Rios. Crawford is only know in his home-state Nebraska and among the loyal boxing fans.
The first Pacquiao-Bradley fight attracted 890,000 pay-per-view purchases. The second fight drew around 800,000 PPV buys according to ESPN's report. Other sources estimated it to be between 775,000 and 800,000 PPV buys.
Pacquiao fans criticized that the fighting solon has nothing prove himself against the American, but Arum expounded that Bradley has improved significantly since hiring new trainer Teddy Atlas for his impressive win over Rios by knockout
“This is a different Bradley because his style is completely different,” Arum told AFP. “Teddy Atlas has turned him into a completely different fighter. The question is, can Manny beat this Bradley.”
By Maloney L. Samaco
It's Timothy Bradley, the reigning WBO welterweight champion, for the third time against Manny Pacquiao. The main reason is Bradley could give more pay-per-view buys than Amir Khan or WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford.
While Pacquiao is rated no. 7 by The Ring pound-for-pound, the longest fighter to be listed in the top 10 for more than twelve years, Bradley is ranked no. 10. Crawford is at No. 6, a notch higher than Pacquiao.
"What HBO said was how Amir Khan didn’t resonate with them at all,” Arum was quoted by the Las Vegas Review Journal. “Yeah, he would do some pay-per-view business in England, but they didn’t think he was an attraction in the United States.”
Arum said all of the options were presented to Pacquiao including the recommendations of the stakeholders and the final pick was Bradley. The trilogy could generate more audience interests than Khan or Crawford.
"We all gave Pacquiao an input," Arum continued. "From the cable companies, the satellite providers, MGM, it was about who is the strongest opponent from a marketable standpoint, and we outlined everything for him and we were down to three choices and Pacquiao thought Bradley was the one that made the most sense."
Arum's analysis was that the frustrations of the viewers on the ballyhooed Fight of the Century with Floyd Mayweather could affect the sales of the trilogy with Bradley. "Of course, I understand the reaction to the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is going to impact us. Clearly, yes. There is no question about that," Arum explained to Yahoo Sports.
"Will we do the same numbers for the first two Bradley fights? Probably not. We're going to try to come as close as we can, and hopefully exceed it, but I understand what we're up against. I've run my numbers and I have done my math. I'm not out here with my head up my ass."
"Crawford doesn’t have a large fan base outside of Nebraska, his home state," Chris Wiliams of Boxing News 24 declared. He estimated a Pacquiao-Crawford fight could bring a maximum of 400,000 PPV buys.
It was projected to be of the same level as the fight with Chris Algieri or Brandon Rios. Crawford is only know in his home-state Nebraska and among the loyal boxing fans.
The first Pacquiao-Bradley fight attracted 890,000 pay-per-view purchases. The second fight drew around 800,000 PPV buys according to ESPN's report. Other sources estimated it to be between 775,000 and 800,000 PPV buys.
Pacquiao fans criticized that the fighting solon has nothing prove himself against the American, but Arum expounded that Bradley has improved significantly since hiring new trainer Teddy Atlas for his impressive win over Rios by knockout
“This is a different Bradley because his style is completely different,” Arum told AFP. “Teddy Atlas has turned him into a completely different fighter. The question is, can Manny beat this Bradley.”
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