JASON PAGARA KNOCKED OUT BY JAPANESE OPPONENT
Jason Pagara had weight issues after a layoff of close to a year and looked bad when he returned to the ring. “He was always out of shape that it was difficult for ALA Promotions to give him fights. The safety of our fighters is the priority more than anything else,” said ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer. The 25-year-old Pagara was also two pounds overweight when he faced Japanese boxer Hiroki Okada for the World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific junior welterweight title. The former lost to the latter by a sixth-round technical knockout. An uppercut to Pagara’s eye had forced him to turn his back.
Jason Pagara suffers first stoppage of his career after getting KOed by Japanese Hiroki Okada in Tokyo
Jason Pagara’s future in boxing is uncertain after he suffered a huge setback in Japan.
Pagara suffered the first stoppage loss of his career, a sixth-round technical knockout by unbeaten Japanese prospect Hiroki Okada in the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
“We gave all the opportunities to Jason, but he has lost his focus in the past couple of years. We still have to talk after the holidays and see what he wants to do with his career,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told SunStar Cebu.
The 25-year-old Pagara was outclassed by Okada all throughout the fight. He got cut by an uppercut to the eye that forced him to turn his back.
Pagara’s coach Edmund Villamor said that the cut took its toll on Pagara.
“He had a hard time recovering. He was very weak,” said Villamor.
Pagara was two pounds overweight and lost his chance of winning the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific junior welterweight crown, which was at stake in the fight.
Back against the ropes
Pagara has had weight issues after a long layoff of close to a year. In his return, he settled for a split draw with last-minute replacement James Onyango.
“He was always out of shape that it was difficult for ALA Promotions to give him fights. The safety of our fighters is the priority more than anything else,” said Adeguer.
Pagara dropped to 40-3-1 with 25 knockouts, while Okada, the No. 9 ranked junior welterweight in the WBO, remained unbeaten with 17-0 and 12 knockouts.
Pagara, rated No. 8 before the fight, could slide down the ladder or worse, exit from the WBO junior welterweight rankings.
“I’m really not sure (of his future). It all depends on Jason and where his mind is at,” said Aldeguer.
He was always out of shape that it was difficult for ALA Promotions to give him fights. The safety of our fighters is the priority more than anything else. I’m really not sure of his future. It all depends on Jason as to where his mind is. MICHAEL ALDEGUER ALA Promotions president