Pinoy Pride 8: ALA boxers, Mexicans vow KO wins

CEBU, Philippines - Bodies will fall into the canvass as both Filipino and Mexican warriors vow to knock each other out in the highly-anticipated "Pinoy Pride 8: Philippines vs. Mexico" fight card this Saturday night at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

ALA stalwarts Milan “El Metodico” Melindo, Jason “El Niño” Pagara and Genesis “Azukal” Servania got their first glimpse of their Latino counterparts during the final press conference yesterday at the Aegean Room of Waterfront.

Having heard from former three-time world title challenger Francisco “Chiquita” Rosas that he is not that great fighter even for his unblemished record, Melindo immediately fired back by promising his boxing fans a knockout win against the Mexican.

The 24-year-old Melindo (24-0, 8KOs) will battle Rosas (22-8, 13KOs) for the vacant WBO Intercontinental flyweight title.

“Sakto siya (Rosas) dili basehan ang record aron ingnun nga maayo ka nga boksidor, pero kung moingun siya nga pasakitan ko niya sa away, aw tan-awon nato basin siyay masakitan,” said the Cagayan De Oro-native fighter.

Melindo is famous not for his power for his fluid boxing style, but this time he would do all his best to score a knockout win against Rosas. “I think this time knockout will come,” he added.

For his part, Rosas said that defeating Melindo would be a big thing for his career as this would probably open another opportunity for him to fight again for the world title.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Pagara said he's not intimidated upon hearing his Mexican opponent’s record.

Pagara (27-1, 16KOs) will be defending his WBO Youth Asia Pacific light welterweight title against Mexican knockout sensation Rosbel “Lobita” Montoya (34-4, 29KOs)

“Wa gyud ko nahadlok sa iyang record, kay andam ko and anytime kaya nako siya tumbahon,” said Pagara. 

But Montoya answered back saying that it would be Pagara who will be kissing the canvass in their fight. 

“He doesn’t know what he is saying, we will see who gets a knockout,” added the Mexican.

On the other hand, another ALA prospect Servania (14-0, 5KOs) showed confidence when he vowed to dish out an impressive knockout win over veteran Gerson “El Nene” Guerrero (37-8, 29KOs).

Servania said he is coming to this fight hungry for a big win and Guerrero will be his victim. “Veteran siya unya ni-ingun siya iya kong tudloan og leksyon, pero ako pud siyang tudloan unsaon pag-knockout og kontra,” he said.

ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor also answered the Mexicans statement of scoring a 3-0 sweep against his fighters. “If moingun sila nga 3-0 sweep, di sad mi musugot ana, kay kami pud baya gusto pud og sweep.”

The official weigh-in of “Pinoy Pride 8” is set at 11am today at the entertainment center of SM City- Cebu. - THE FREEMAN