Chao Sy rolls out big comeback fight for “Prince” Albert Pagara
In what is by far his biggest boxing card, Cebuano sportsman Lorenzo “Chao” Sy launches a major comeback fight for one-time world title challenger “Prince” Albert Pagara.
In a press conference yesterday at La Fortuna Bakery- Sto. Niño branch, Sy announced that he booked Pagara (34-1, 24KOs) for an International Boxing Federation (IBF) Asia lightweight title showdown with China’s Aketelieti Yelejian (8-3-1, 2KOs) headlining a quadruple championship show penciled on June 15 either at the Nustar Resort and Casino Convention Center or at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Barangay Lahug.
“Si Pagara dugay-dugay man nako gipangita. Gusto nako nga mahatagan siya og laing tsansa kay nagtoo ko nga ma-champion pa siya og balik,” said Sy, currently vice chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC).
“Suwayan sab nako ning dako nga promosyon. Basin pa lang og mosaler ni, atong padayonon,” added the regional director of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP)-Central Visayas.
For the 29-year-old Pagara, having someone who still trusts in his ability to scale back the summit of success despite all the trials and tribulations that smacked his way means a lot.
“Nagpasalamat ko ni sir Chao Sy kay wala ko niya makalimti. Excited sab ko nga moduwa og balik sa Cebu kay diha gyud ko misikat,” said Pagara, who is now based in Baguio City with his new management team.
Pagara, who hails from Maasin City in Southern Leyte, reached the zenith of glory under the aegis of Cebu’s fabled ALA Gym.
He once reigned as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental super bantamweight king but was ousted from his throne when he suffered his first and only career loss via a stunning eight-round knockout at the hands of Mexican toughie Cesar Juarez on July 9, 2016 at the San Mateo Event Center in San Mateo, California.
Pagara made a triumphant return to the ring, racking up six consecutive victories after his stinging setback against Juarez. Pagara’s career, however, came tumbling down when ALA Gym closed shop at the height of the pandemic in August 2020.
Since then, Pagara fought only two times, grinding out a unanimous decision over Virgil Puton on December 18, 2020 at the IPI Sports Complex in Mandaue City before stopping Allan Villanueva in his previous match on November 5, 2022 at the Talisay City Sports Complex.
Pagara may be inactive in the past three years because of diverse reasons that included a rape case filed against him for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl but Pagara remains a force to reckon with as a fighter with only one defeat in 35 fights spiked with 24KOs.
“Bisan wala na kaayo ko maka-away sa miaging duha ka tuig, naningkamot gihapon ko og training kay daghan pa ang misalig nako ug nangandoy gihapon ko nga ma-champion og balik,”Pagara said.