Melindo, Pagara brothers to headline Nov. 26 show
Explosive boxing action returns to the Cebu Coliseum with no less two-time world title challenger Milan "El Metodico" Melindo and the celebrated brothers 'Prince' Albert and Jason "El Niño" Pagara headlining the event set for November 26.
After two failed attempts against Mexican ring stars Juan Francisco Estrada and Javier Mendoza, Melindo (34-2, 12KOs) hopes to make it right this time as he battles veteran Thai banger Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. (31-4-1, 16KOs) for the IBF interim light flyweight belt topbilling the Pinoy Pride 39 show bankrolled by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.
Melindo, who was hobbled by weight problems when he pulled off a technical decision win over Maximino Flores in his previous bout last May in Bacolod City, has a lot to prove when he faces Sakkareerin in most likely a win or die fight for him.
Like Melindo, Albert Pagara also hopes to make amends from past failure, coming off a brutal eighth round knockout loss to Mexican toughie Cesar Juarez during the "Pinoy Pride 37: Fists of the Future" last July 9 at the San Mateo Events Center in San Mateo, California. It was his first and only loss in 27 fights spiked with 18KOs, so far.
Albert hopes to get back on the winning track when he slugs is out with Raymond Commey of Ghana, while his older brother Jason will mix it up with Nicaraguan Jose “Quiebra Jicara” Alfaro in non-title matches both scheduled for 10 rounds.
A bunch of ALA Boxing Gym upstarts in Jeo “Santino” Santisima, Kevin jake "KJ" Cataraja, Jimmy "Popeye" Paypa, Melvin "Gringo" Jakosalem, and Jonas "Zorro" Sultan will also see action in the slambang fisticuffs against undetermined foes.
It's been a while since a major fightcard took place at the Cebu Coliseum. The last time was on July 26, 2008, when AJ "Bazooka" Banal, running out of gas after a beautiful first half show in a 12-rounder, lost by a devastating 10th round stoppage to Panamian Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion in their WBA interim super flyweight title showdown.