‘Laban kung Laban’ tonight

Win or bust. Jason “El Niño” Pagara has his career to think of when he faces Mexican Aaron “La Hoya” Herrera tonight in the main event of the 20th installment of Pinoy Pride series dubbed ‘Laban Kung Laban’ at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Pagara will try to defend his WBO International light welterweight title but the ultimate goal is to prevent his young career from coming to an abrupt end against a seemingly confident opponent.

“This fight, I would say, is going to be a defining moment for Pagara’s career,” said ALA Promotions CEO/president Michael Aldeguer. “If Pagara cannot get through Herrera, there’s no point of pushing him to bigger fights abroad or even fight Brandon Rios.”

Aldeguer said pitting Pagara against Herrera is the only way to test how far the 22-year-old Cagayan de Oro-native fighter could go. “When we got Herrera, people talked about how dangerous a fighter he is for a young guy like Pagara. Herrera is a threat and he’s been waiting for this break.”

Pagara’s career is predicted to skyrocket with a win over Herrera.

“He is number four in the world in the WBO right now. If he does well, we could bring him to the next level. The US is looking for a 140-pounder and we are looking at Pagara. We have to see how he performs,” Aldeguer said.

Pagara doesn’t have to look far to find out how devastating it is to lose a crucial fight.

CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE

His stablemate at ALA Gym Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista has called its quits after losing to Jose Ramirez last month in Davao City. Another ALA Gym stalwart, AJ “Bazooka” Banal, has laid low since dropping a world title fight against Pungluang Sor Singyu in Manila last year.

“I’m ready for this fight. I know what awaits me if I win this fight. I’ve been waiting to earn a shot at a world title,” said Pagara.

Pagara said the seven-month training has toughened him up. And for added inspiration, he requested his mother to be at the ringside when he fights.

“There’s no question. Pagara is very focused for this fight,” Aldeguer said.

Both fighters easily made the weight in yesterday’s weigh-in at SM City-Cebu.

Pagara (30-2, 19KOs) came in at 139 pounds, while Herrera (25-1, 17 KOs) tipped the scales at 139 and a half.

Herrera was a picture of a confident fighter, flexing his muscles and kissing his biceps in front of the crowd.

“There will be a knockout,” warned Herrera.

Meanwhile, a ripped Jimrex Jaca (37-6-3, 21 KOs) weighed exactly at 140 pounds while his opponent Jose Emilio Perea (29-2, 20KOs) was one pound over the 140-pound limit.

The two will fight for the vacant WBO Oriental light welterweight title.

The unbeaten Genesis “Azukal” Servania (19-0, 7 KOs) tipped the scales at 122 pounds while his Indeonesian opponent Isaac Junior (20-3-2, 8 KOs) came in two pounds over the 124-pound limit.

Junior was asked to reduce at least a pound for the 10-round, non-title contest.