Young boxers to take center stage in Nietes-Vazquez undercard

Young Filipino boxers Jason Pagara and Lorenzo Villanueva will also take center stage when they take on separate opponents from Tanzania in the undercard of the main event between Donnie "Ahas" Nietes and Mexican Armando Vazquez on April 9 at the University of St. La Salle gym in Bacolod City. Nietes will face Vazquez in a 108-pound, 10-round bout in the former's first fight in the junior flyweight division after relinquishing his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight (105-pound) title belt. Pagara, only 19, will face Deo Njiku in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO Youth Asia-Pacific Youth junior welterweight crown, while Villanueva will take on African Ramadhani Shaun in a 12-rounder for the WBO Oriental featherweight title. Pagara holds a record of 25 wins and one loss with 14 knockouts, while Villanueva is undefeated in 19 bouts with 14 knockouts. ALA Boxing Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said Pagara and Villanueva can both guarantee entertaining fights Aldeguer said that Top Rank Promotions already showed interest in Pagara, but the promotional outfit of veteran promoter Bob Arum said the Cagayan de Oro City-born fighter is still too young. "He (Pagara) is now beginning to be talked about. Top Rank wanted to sign him in the U.S., but they have a 21-year-old age limit," said Aldeguer in Friday's SCOOP forum. Pagara took an easy first round knockout win over Billy Sumba of Indonesia last January in a bout held in Cebu City. Boxing fans can also expect something out of Villanueva, who is said to be one of the young Filipino boxer's to watch out for. Villanueva, a former member of the Braveheart Stable, is fresh from a second round technical knockout win over Ruben Santillanosa in a fight held last month in General Santos City. Also in the fight card are Roli Gasca and Arthur Villanueva. Gasca will take on Ngaotawan Sithsaitong of Thailand in a 10-round bout, while arthur Villanueva will face Mark Anthony Geraldo in an eight-rounder. Aldeguer high on Cuello Aldeguer is also optimistic that even if he's not part of the ALA stable, Denver "The Excitement" Cuello will defeat Thailand's Samat "3K Battery" Chaiyong on Saturday at the Ynares Gym in Angono, Rizal. "He (Cuello) is one of the promising Filipino fighters," said Aldeguer. "He has power and maturity. It will only take time." Aldeguer hinted that Cuello (25-4-6 win-loss-draw, 15 knockouts, two TKOs) will have an easy time against Chaiyong (4-1). "The Thai fighter may not be in his league, but the sky is the limit for Denver," said Cuello. The Cuello-Chaiyong bout is part of the "Laban ng Lahi" series and will be aired on Sunday, 10 a.m. on GMA Network and simulcast on Super Radyo dzBB 594. - Reuben Terrado, JVP, KY, GMA News