Albert Pagara
Albert Pagara is a Filipino professional boxer. He currently competes in the super bantamweight division and was a WBO and IBF Inter-Continental champion.
Professional boxer Jason Pagara is his older brother.
Early life
Albert Pagara was born in Maasin, Southern Leyte to Reynaldo Pagara and Sabrian Herugalem. His older brother, Jason, is also a professional boxer.Pagara started amateur boxing under the Maasin Sports Council. Along with his brother, he moved to Cagayan de Oro to train further. There, the brothers studied at Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School. During his teens, he won a total of 10 gold medals in Palarong Pambansa.
Professional boxing career
Pagara made his professional debut on August 18, 2011, at the age of 17, defeating fellow debutant Sandy Cajil via TKO in the second round at Cebu IT Park, Cebu City, Philippines.On October 8, 2011, he defeated Shabani Madilu of Tanzania via unanimous decision in Pinoy Pride IX held in Bacolod, Philippines.
On March 24, 2012, during the Pinoy Pride XIII held in Cebu City, Pagara knocked out Thai visitor Phupha Por Nobnom in the second round.
During the Pinoy Pride 24 on March 1, 2014, Pagara knocked out former WBO Asia-Pacific champion Isack Junior of Indonesia in the very first round at Solaire Resort & Casino, Parañaque. On April 11, 2014, he stopped Indonesian fighter Skak Max via TKO in the third round held in his hometown of Maasin.
Pagara wasted no time by gaining his first-ever title, the IBF International Super Bantamweight belt against Hugo Partida. He demolished the Mexican via TKO in the first round at the Waterfront [Cebu City Hotel & Casino|Waterfront Hotel & Casino] in Cebu City on June 21, 2014.
In his first international fight held at Dubai World Trade Centre, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on August 7, 2015, Pagara knocked down his Mexican opponent, Jesús Ríos on the very first round, defending his IBF Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title. The 21-year-old boxer caught Ríos with a strong straight right punch behind the ear that immediately knelt him on the floor. After his foe regained his consciousness, Pagara delivered numerous shots on Ríos' head and made referee Bruce McTavish stop the fight with more than a minute left on the first round while Ríos was literally still holding the ropes.
On July 10, 2016, Pagara sustained the first ever loss in his professional boxing career after his challenger Cesar Juárez of Mexico stopped him in the 8th round, leading to Juárez's victory in the main event of Pinoy Pride 37 in San Mateo, California. After the fight, Pagara, with a neck brace attached was taken out of a stretcher and rushed to the Stanford Hospital in nearby Palo Alto. He was later cleared by the doctors after undergoing several tests.
Pagara was scheduled to face Curmel Moton on December 30, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. The matchup announced for the undercard of Ryan Garcia vs Rukiya Anpo was canceled after the main event bout fell through due to injury suffered by Garcia.
On 23 May 2025, he faced Bakhodur Usmonov for the vacant WBA Gold lightweight title at the Tennis Palace and Water Sports Complex in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, losing by knockout in the third round.
Controversies
On September 1, 2021, Pagara was arrested in Cebu City for allegedly molesting and raping a 14-year-old girl. According to relatives of the alleged victim, the incident happened around 4:00 p.m. that same day in Pagara's house. Pagara did not resist arrest but denied the accusations. The following night, Pagara reportedly attempted suicide by self-strangulation in his jail cell but was saved by his fellow detainees. However, police denied that any suicide attempt occurred. He was released after posting ₱100,000 bail on September 8.Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 37 | Loss | 35–2 | Bakhodur Usmonov | KO | 3, 2:52 | May 23, 2025 | Tennis Palace and Water Sports Complex, Dushanbe, Tajikistan | For vacant WBA Gold and IBA Pro Intercontinental lightweight titles |
| 36 | Win | 35–1 | Aketelieti Yelejian | MD | 10 | Jun 15, 2024 | City of Passi Arena, Passi, Philippines | Won vacant IBF Asia lightweight title |
| 35 | Win | 34–1 | Allan Villanueva | RTD | 4, | Nov 5, 2022 | Talisay City Sports Complex, Talisay City, Philippines | |
| 34 | Win | 33–1 | Virgil Puton | UD | 10 | Dec 18, 2020 | IPI Gym Compound, Mandaue, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 33 | Win | 32–1 | Ratchanon Sawangsoda | TKO | 1, | Aug 17, 2019 | Superdome, Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines | |
| 32 | Win | 31–1 | George Krampah | KO | 1, 2:55 | Nov 24, 2018 | IEC Convention Center, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | Retained WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title. |
| 31 | Win | 30–1 | Laryea Gabriel Odoi | TKO | 3, 2:30 | Jun 9, 2018 | Maasin City Gym, Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines | Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title. |
| 30 | Win | 29–1 | Mohammed Kambuluta | KO | 2, 2:26 | Nov 25, 2017 | Bohol Wisdom School Gym, Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines | |
| 29 | Win | 28–1 | Aekkawee Kaewmanee | KO | 4, 2:59 | Jul 8, 2017 | IEC Convention Center, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 28 | Win | 27–1 | Raymond Commey | UD | 12 | Nov 26, 2016 | Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 27 | Loss | 26–1 | Cesar Juárez | KO | 8, | Jul 9, 2016 | San Mateo Event Center, San Mateo, California, U.S. | Lost WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title. |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Yesner Talavera | UD | 12 | Feb 27, 2016 | Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title. |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | William Gonzalez | KO | 6, 2:20 | Oct 17, 2015 | StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Jesús Ríos | TKO | 1, | Aug 7, 2015 | World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Rodolfo Hernández | 5, | Mar 28, 2015 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines | ||
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Raúl Hirales Jr. | UD | 12 | Nov 15, 2014 | Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Hugo Partida | TKO | 1, 1:18 | Jun 21, 2014 | Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Skak Max | TKO | 3, 1:33 | Apr 11, 2014 | Maasin City Gym, Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Isack Junior | KO | 1, 2:41 | Mar 1, 2014 | Solaire Resort & Casino, Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Gadwin Tubigon | UD | 10 | Dec 7, 2013 | Freedom Park, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Khunkhiri Wor Wisaruth | TKO | 2, 2:29 | Jul 13, 2013 | Solaire Resort & Casino, Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Jessie Tuyor | UD | 10 | Apr 6, 2013 | Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Jilo Martin | TKO | 3, | Jan 20, 2013 | Gaisano Country Mall Parking Lot, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Komgrich Nantapech | KO | 2, | Nov 15, 2012 | Maasin City Gym, Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Marvin Tampus | UD | 10 | Sep 28, 2012 | Mayor Esperanza Binghay Memorial Complex, Balamban, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Alvin Makiling | UD | 8 | Aug 18, 2012 | Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Phupha Por Nobnom | KO | 2, | Mar 24, 2012 | Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Lowie Bantigue | TKO | 3, | Jan 15, 2012 | Gaisano Country Mall Parking Lot, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Henry Acha | KO | 3, 2:59 | Nov 21, 2011 | Maasin City Gym, Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Shabani Madilu | UD | 8 | Oct 8, 2011 | University of St. La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Rogen Flores | TKO | 4, 2:43 | Aug 16, 2011 | Maasin City Gym, Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Saddam Alin | KO | 3, | Jul 30, 2011 | Hoops Dome, Lapu-Lapu, Philippines | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Anthony Galigao | KO | 1, | May 20, 2011 | Maasin City Gym, Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Robert Awetin | 6 | Apr 9, 2011 | University of St. La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines | ||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Camilo Rey Seneres | TKO | 1, 2:21 | Mar 19, 2011 | Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jeffrey Galsim | 1, | Jan 29, 2011 | Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Sandy Cajil | 2, | Jan 15, 2011 | I.T Park, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines |
IBA professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Albert Batyrgaziev | TKO | 4, 3:00 | Oct 17, 2024 | Ufa Arena, Ufa, Russia | For vacant IBA lightweight title; Pagara unable to continue due to an injury on his left arm |
Exhibition boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 4 | 0–0–1 | MJ Uduna | 2 | Feb 3, 2024 | Benguet Sports Complex, La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines | Non-scored bout | ||
| 3 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Lorence Rosas | PTS | 3 | Aug 12, 2023 | Balayong Sports Complex, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines | |
| 2 | 0–0 | Dave Peñalosa | 3 | Mar 27, 2023 | Compostela, Cebu, Philippines | Non-scored bout | ||
| 1 | 0–0 | Jhunrick Carcedo | 3 | Jan 28, 2023 | Pagara Boxing Gym, Liloan, Cebu, Philippines | Non-scored bout |