Melindo, Pagaras back on ring in ‘Pinoy Pride 39’

ONE cannot discount the fight in the Filipino heart that enables him to stand up and fight back every time he goes down.

Rising boxers Milan “El Metodico” Melindo and brothers Jason and Albert Pagara are ready to get back in the ring and use their “pusong palaban” as they lead the Filipino fighters in the “Pinoy Pride 39: Road to Redemption” card, happening at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City on Saturday (Nov. 26), and airing on free TV this Sunday (Nov. 27) on ABS-CBN at 3:30 p.m. and on ABS-CBN Sports + Action (S+A) at 6:30 p.m.

Hungry to avenge previous setbacks and to create their own marks in Philippine boxing, the trio looks to end the year on a victorious note as they face formidable opposition. Melindo (332; 12 KOs) vows to make the most out of another crack at the title, when he faces a dangerous Thai opponent in Fahlan Sakkreerin, Jr. (31-4; 16 KOs) for the IBF Interim World, Jr. Flyweight title. Both Melindo and Sakkreerin are rated in the top 10 of the IBF, sixth and third respectively.

Albert Pagara (26-1-0; 18 KOs), on the other hand, is a flashy knockout artist that is dead set to make up for his shocking loss to Cesar Juarez in the last “Pinoy Pride” in the USA. The local boxing scene’s golden boy looks to display once again the “killer instinct” that made him one of the fastest rising stars in Philippine boxing in his battle with Raymond Commey (16-1-0; 9 KOs) of Ghana.

His older brother Jason (392- 0; 24 KOs), meanwhile, will try to continue his winning ways against Jose “Quiebra Jicara” Alfaro ( 28-10-1; 24 KOs) from Nicaragua, a former WBA Lightweight champion. Both fighters boast of a 59% knockout rate and going the distance doesn’t seem like an option between them.

“Pinoy Pride 39” is the fifth and final “Pinoy Pride” event this year, which saw the continuous growth of the local boxing scene and its expansion to foreign territories like the Middle East and the USA. A partnership between ABS- CBN Sports and ALA Promotions, Inc., “Pinoy Pride” aims to promote and strengthen the sport of boxing in the Philippines by discovering and promoting up and coming fighters in the country.