Prince Albert Pagara of the ALA Gym kept his impressive unbeaten run intact when he scored a third round knockout win against Jilo Merlin in the main event of last Sunday’s ALA-Cobra ‘Tunay na Lakas’ fight card at the Gaisano Country Mall carpark.
Pagara easily found his range and landed heavy hooks to the body and head. In the third, Pagara cornered Merlin and unleashed left and right hooks to the abdomen that sent Merlin crumbling in the neutral corner. He tried to get up but failed to beat the count of Referee Ben Necessario.
Pagara improved to 15W-0L, 11 KOs while Merlin dropped to 12W-15L-2D, 2 KOs.
In a tense and close ten round struggle, Jerson Mancio outlasted Gerpaul Valero and prevailed by unanimous decision. Mancio landed well-placed body punches and Valero tried to counter with his jab.
Mancio managed to cut the ring off and avoid Valero’s vaunted left hook as the protagonists exchanged hard shots until the final bell.
The judges had Mancio the winner – 96-94, 96-94 and 97-93. Mancio (17W-3L-3D, 7 KOs), who fights out of the ALA gym, is the Philippine lt. flyweight champion while Valero’s 12 fight winning streak under trainer Brix Flores came to an end.
In the other supporting bouts – Jimmy Paypa beat veteran Marvin Tampus by unanimous decision scoring identical 98-92 scores on all three judges’ cards. The now retired former world ranked contender Michael Domingo was the cornerman of Paypa.
Reymund Tabogon knocked down Abel Gayhun with a well-timed right in the second round and won by technical decision in round six of a scheduled eight rounder. An accidental clash of heads inflicted a cut on Tabogon’s left eyebrow but he was well ahead when the fight was stopped – 58-55, 59-54 and 58-55.
Bryan Lobitania won by third round TKO over Jamjam Ungon; Rolando Servania beat Joyjoy Formenter by unanimous decision; Ivor Lastrilla and Freddie Bisande fought to a majority draw while Richard Barrios won by unanimous decision over Rolando Sanchez.
The ‘Free to the Public’ card was held during the annual Sinulog Festival with bouts supervised by Glen Agena and Celso Miranda of GAB-Cebu.
Among the faces in the crowd was WBO lt.flyweight world champion Donnie Nietes, who invited fans to watch his scheduled defense on March 2 against Mexico’s Moises Fuentes at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug.