One cannot discount the fight in the Filipino heart that enables him to stand up and fight back every time he goes down.
Rising boxers Milan “El Metodico” Melindo and brothers Jason and Albert Pagara are ready to get back in the ring and use their “pusong palaban” as they lead the Filipino fighters in the “Pinoy Pride 39: Road to Redemption” card, happening at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City on Saturday (November 26), and airing on free TV this Sunday (November 27) on ABS-CBN at 3:30pm and on ABS-CBN Sports + Action (S+A) at 6:30pm.
Hungry to avenge previous setbacks and to create their own marks in Philippine boxing, the trio looks to end the year on a victorious note as they face formidable opposition. Melindo (33-2; 12 KOs) vows to make the most out of another crack at the title, when he faces a dangerous Thai opponent in Fahlan Sakkreerin, Jr. (31-4; 16 KOs) for the IBF Interim World Jr. Flyweight title. Both Melindo and Sakkreerin are rated in the top 10 of the IBF, sixth and third respectively.
“Dalawang beses na ako nabigo sa pagkuha ng world title. Marami nga ang nagtataka kung bakit hindi pa ako nag reretiro. Kaya ngayon, gusto ko ipakita na kaya ko pa rin lumaban, ” Melindo said.
Albert Pagara (26-1-0; 18 KOs), on the other hand, is a flashy knockout artist that is dead set to make up for his shocking loss to Cesar Juarez in the last “Pinoy Pride” in the USA. The local boxing scene’s golden boy looks to display once again the “killer instinct” that made him one of the fastest rising stars in Philippine boxing in his battle with Raymond Commey (16-1-0; 9 KOs) of Ghana.
His older brother Jason (39-2-0; 24 KOs), meanwhile, will try to continue his winning ways against Jose “Quiebra Jicara” Alfaro (28-10-1; 24 KOs) from Nicaragua, a former WBA Lightweight champion. Both fighters boast of a 59% knockout rate and going the distance doesn’t seem like an option between them.
“Pinoy Pride 39” is the fifth and final “Pinoy Pride” event this year, which saw the continuous growth of the local boxing scene and its expansion to foreign territories like the Middle East and the USA. A partnership between ABS-CBN Sports and ALA Promotions Inc., “Pinoy Pride” aims to promote and strengthen the sport of boxing in the Philippines by discovering and promoting up and coming fighters in the country.
Will the Philippine contingent triumph on their home soil with Melindo and the Pagara brothers leading the charge? Witness the Filipino’s trademark “Pusong Palaban” at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City for “Pinoy Pride 39: Road to Redemption” this Sunday (November 27) on ABS-CBN at 3:30pm and S+A ch. 23 at 7:30pm, with a telecast on S+A HD on Monday (November 28) at 6pm.
Viewers can show their support for the fighters and be part of the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #PinoyPride39. For details and more information, follow ABS-CBN Sports on Facebook and Twitter (@abscbnsports) or logon to their website, sports.abs-cbn.com.
