Mexican warrior Cesar Juarez survive a first-round knockdown and overwhelmed exceptional Filipino star Albert Pagara to win by means of stoppage in the main event of Pinoy Pride 37: Fists of the Future in San Mateo, California on Saturday.
Juarez was sent to the canvas by a left hook to the jaw with under 10 seconds to go in the first round, yet got back up and got to be stronger as the battle went on, in the long run smashing Pagara with his determined action.
The end came for Pagara ahead in the eighth round, when Juarez opened up the casing with a whirlwind of punches that found the young Filipino napping and punched him right back again into his corner.
Juarez landed three straight unanswered punches to open the eighth round, all hits landing flush to the head of Pagara, and the Filipino hit his corner and landed on the canvas. He attempted to beat the 10-count, however, couldn't stand up and the battle was finished with an upset.
The time of the stoppage was only 15 seconds into the eighth round.
Pagara must be stretchered out of the ring as he was down on the canvas for a few minutes taking after the knockout.
It was a merciless lesson for the young Pagara, why should looking shield his WBO intercontinental super-bantamweight title and was favored to win against Juarez, who returned in having lost to-back matches.
One of those battles was against Nonito Donaire last December 2015, wherein he connected with the "Filipino Flash" in a ridiculous war before losing a consistent decision.
He got a measure of retribution as he overwhelmed Pagara from the fourth round onwards, more than once sticking the Filipino on the ropes or in the corner and emptying punches. Pagara was all the while finding some hard punches by the 6th round, however, Juarez was the more dynamic, forceful warrior.
Juarez ruled the seventh round, constraining Pagara to the ropes and unleashing punches in progression. Pagara was sluggish by the middle of the round and was securing, attempting to survive towards the end.
The young Filipino rushed right once more enthusiastically when the ringer rang to flag the begin of the eighth round, yet was met by a whirlwind of strikes by Juarez and couldn't react.
Juarez turned into the new WBO intercontinental super-bantamweight champion and enhanced his record to 18-5.
Pagara, as far as it matters for him, lost without precedent for his profession and dropped to 26-1 with 18 knockouts.
