PAGARA WILL DRAW ENERGY FROM CROWD TO BEAT ODOI IN PINOY PRIDE 44

Like his other fights in Maasin City, Leyte before, Albert Pagara will draw extra energy from the hometown crowd to fight Ghanaian Laryea Gabriel Odoi in the main event of Pinoy Pride 44 – “Laban sa Leyte” tonight.

Albert Pagara feels motivated playing in front of a sold-out home crowd as he fights Ghana’s Laryea Odoi in the main event of Pinoy Pride 44 at the Maasin Gym

Fighting in front of a hometown crowd has always given Albert Pagara that extra push to win his fights.

In his return to Maasin City after four years, the 24-year-old Pagara, who spent part of his childhood here, will again try to draw that extra energy from a sold-out crowd in the Maasin City Gym to beat Ghan’s Laryea Gabriel Odoi in their World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental super bantamweight fight, the main event of Pinoy Pride 44 – “Laban sa Leyte” tonight.

“Every time I fight here, it’s always packed. Even if it’s not a Pinoy Pride event, the gym is always full whenever I fight. I don’t feel tired because of the fans,” said Pagara. “I don’t feel any pressure at all. I feel very motivated.” Droves of fans flocked the Maasin City Terminal to get a glimpse of their idol, who tipped the scales at exactly 122 pounds. Odoi weighed in below the super bantamweight limit, at 120 pounds.

Despite being the underdog and fighting on enemy soil, the 28-year-old Odoi is still confident of his chances against Pagara.

“I’m a champion. I’m not afraid of him. I’m ready for the fight,” he said.

Pagara is 29-1 with 20 knockouts, while Odoi is 20-3-2 with 14 knockouts. Pagara wants to put on a show for his hometown fans and targets no less than an exhilarating knockout.

“Whenever I fight, if there’s a chance for a knockout, I always go for the knockout,” he said.

Hard-hitting Jeo Santisima (152, 13 KOs) locks horns with Thai Likit Chane (16-5, 10 KOs) for the vacant WBO Oriental super bantamweight strap in his first shot at a regional title.

Santisima tipped the scales a pound below the super bantamweight limit at 121, while Chane weighed-in a pound lighter than his opponent at 120 pounds.

Jason Pagara (40-3-1, 25 KOs) takes on Indonesian Wellem Reyk (19-17-4, 5 KOs) in 10-round non-title fight.

SUNSTAR FOTO / ALEX BADAYOS EXPECT A SHOW. Albert Pagara says he will make sure his hometown of Maasin will enjoy tonight’s fight with Laryea Odoi, promising no less than an exhilarating knockout of the visitng Odoi.