Pagara KOs foe in Sinulog boxing

CEBU, Philippines - Rising bantamweight star Albert ‘Prince’ Pagara of the ALA Boxing Gym kept his unbeaten record intact with a smashing third round knockout of Jilo Merlin in the main event of the free-to-the-public Sinulog boxing show presented by ALA Promotions last Sunday night at the Gaisano Countrymall carpark in Brgy. Banilad, this city.

The 18-year-old Pagara used a barrage of body shots to send Merlin to the canvas in the third round. The La Trinidad, Benguet fighter tried to get back on his feet, but he failed to beat the referee’s count. The official time was 1:38.

Pagara, thus, stretched his undefeated run to 15-0 now spiked with 11KOs. That also earned him a mandatory shot at the Philippine title currently held by Monico Laurente.

In the supporting main event, reigning Phl light flyweight champion Jerson Mancio (17-3, 7KOs) hammered out a 10-round unanimous decision win over Gerpaul Valero (13-14, 9KOs). The two fighters bravely exchanged fistic bombs, but it was Mancio who got the judges' nod with the scores of 96-94, 96-94 and 97-93.

In the undercards, Jimmy Paypa beat former two-division PABA titlist Marvin Tampus by unanimous verdict,  Reymund Tabogon won over Abel Gayhun by technical decision, Richard Barrios outsmarted Rolando Sanchez, Rolando Servania triumphed over Joy Formenter, while Freddie Bisande and Ivor Lastrilla fought to a majority draw over four rounds. (FREEMAN)