I will be Pagara’s biggest problem, says Montoya

With no personal problems to deal with this time, Jason Pagara is confident he can avenge his previous loss to Mexico’s Rosbel Montoya.

At least for now, Pagara has no problem. His problem will come on Saturday, warned Montoya.

“I will be his problem on the ring. If he wants to win, I want to win also,” declared Montoya, who will gun for a repeat when he clashes with the ALA Gym stalwart on Saturday in the main event of the Pinoy Pride XV: The Rematch at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

“I know Pagara is a well-trained fighter and so am I. This is going to be a very good fight,” said Montoya through interpreter Ramon Escaño in a press briefing yesterday at Mooon Cafe in Asiatown IT Park.

The two boxers will fight for the WBO International junior welterweight title.

Exploiting his significant height advantage, Montoya (36W-30KOs-4L-1D) pulled off a convincing unanimous decision win over Pagara (28W-17KOs-2L) in their first meeting last year.

Nicknamed “El Niño, Pagara blamed personal problems as the cause of the humiliating loss. He vowed that the second encounter will have a different result.

Pagara atoned himself from that sorry loss with a second round knockout win over Indonesia’s Frans Yarangga last March in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Montoya went on a mini tear after beating Pagara, scoring two straight wins before suffering a sixth round knockout loss against Argentina’s Claudio Alfredo Olmedo last March 24.

NO FLUKE

To prove that his previous win against Pagara was no fluke and get back on track after that loss to Olmedo will be Montoya’s main mission going into the much-awaited rematch.

There’s another reason why Montoya has to win again against Pagara.

“I was happy when I beat Pagara. Because of that win, the Cebuanos remember me. I want to beat Pagara again so that the people here will continue to remember me,” said Montoya.

The win made Montoya only the second Mexican boxer to win in Cebu since Fernando Montiel scored a split decision against Z Gorres in February 2007.

Montoya said the things that he did when he first beat Pagara will still be the key to score a repeat.

“I adjusted to his fighting style. I fought from a distance,” said Montoya, fully aware that Pagara will be vulnerable to his counter-attack because  of his height advantage.

As if showing how confident he is of winning the rematch, Montoya said Pagara didn’t hurt him in their first meeting.

“His strength is just average,” said Montoya.