CEBU, Philippines - ALA Stable stars Jason "El Niño" Pagara, Genesis "Azukal" Servania and the comebacking Jimrex "The Executioner" Jaca promised to put on a highly entertaining show when they take on separate Mexican opponents in the highly-anticipated "Pinoy Pride XV: Philippines vs. Mexico-The Rematch" on August 18 at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
The three fighters were accompanied by ALA Promotions Director for Media and Public Relations Chad E. Cañares and chief trainer Edito "ALA" Villamor as they visited The FREEMAN office yesterday as part of their media tour to drum up the 15th installment of the mega-boxing series.
"I'm very excited and I'm very thankful to ALA Promotions for giving me this opportunity to have a rematch with Rosbel Montoya," said Pagara. "I have a very high confidence in myself this time. I prepared and trained hard for this fight."
The 21-year-old Pagara (28-2, 17KOs) seeks to regain lost pride and glamour as he faces anew his Mexican tormentor Rosbel "Lobito" Montoya (36-4-1, 30KOs) in a grudge rematch of sort for the WBO International jr welterweight championship.
During their first meeting on September 10 last year at the plush hotel, Pagara was clearly outclassed in a unanimous decision loss to Montoya.
But the pride of Cagayan de Oro City exudes so much confidence that he could get back at the Mexican power-puncher.
"I've never been this focused in my career. It's going to be a great fight and I will give my very best to come up with a very exciting show," said Pagara. "This time, there will be a knockout. I assure them that."
Servania, unscathed in 18 ring battles packed with 7KOs, also assured the Cebuanos of a good night of fistic action.
"I'm in top shape right now. This is a very important fight for me and I'm looking forward to put on an impressive performance, something that would thrill the Cebuano boxing followers to the max," said Servania.
The Bacolod City-native ring gladiator will slug it out with Jorge "El Feroz" Pazos for the WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight crown.
In the other feature of the explosive triple-header, former two-division OPBF champion Jimrex "The Executioner" Jaca (34-6-3, 19KOs) will make his ring return under the aegis of ALA Promotions against the young Mexican prospect Angel "Arcangel" Martinez (13-2-1, 9KOs).
"I will do whatever it takes to win because I really want to push my career back on the right track," said Jaca. "He (Martinez) has said so much about me, that he is going to knock me out. Maybe, he doesn't know me well. I can't promise anything though at this point. I will just let my fists do the talking when we meet inside the ring."
The rest of the slambang card co-presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports features Mark Vincent Bernaldez vs. Joash Aprericio; Juren Labordo vs. Powell Balaba; Jojo Intor vs. Peter Aldrin; and JP Artieda vs. Hector Rojoca.
Tickets for the Pinoy Pride XV:The Rematch are on sale at SM City Cebu and Consolacion Customer Service Counters, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Mooon Café at Cebu I.T. Park, USA Sports outlets, Gaisano Tabunok, ALA Boxing and Fitness Gym at Banilad Town Center and at the ALA Promotions Head Office with numbers (032) 236-4611. - THE FREEMAN