PASAY CITY — Undefeated WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) lightweight champion Miguel “Hands of Stone” Antoine (17W-0L-1D, 9KOs) and trainer Samuel Gregory Lane were all smiles when asked about their chances against WBO International light welterweight champion Jason “El Niño” Pagara (29W-2L, 18KOs) of the ALA Boxing Gym of Cebu.
“Yes, I will beat him on Saturday,” Antoine told CDN after yesterday’s press conference for the Pinoy Pride XVII card. “Then I want to fight Manny Pacquiao.”
“He is faster than Floyd Mayweather, hits harder than Victor Ortiz, Antoine is the complete package,” Trainer Lane said when asked by this writer to comment about his boxer’s statements. “He’ll beat Pagara, then we’ll fight Pacquiao.”
Pagara said during the press conference held at the Midas Hotel that he is in excellent shape because he did not stop training after he knocked out Rosbel Montoya of Mexico in their rematch last August at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
Antoine is a bit of an unknown entity because he has fought mostly in his native Barbados and in Guyana. Fans will have to see this Saturday to find out if he is really as good as advertised.
Pagara vs. Antoine is one of the anticipated match-ups for the 17th edition of the highly successful Pinoy Pride boxing series entitled Philippines vs the World headlined by the WBO bantamweight world title bout between AJ “Bazooka” Banal of the ALA Gym and Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. /Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr.