NIETES NOT TAKING VELARDE LIGHTLY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 07 Nov 2014
WBO light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes isn?t taking Mexican challenger Carlos Velarde lightly and has been training harder than ever for his title defense at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu on November 15.
The fight is even more important for Nietes who rose from mopping the floor at the famed ALA Gym years ago to become one of the top world champions in the lower weight divisions who is on the threshold of surpassing the record of Hall-of-Fame Filipino great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde who reigned as world junior lightweight champion for seven years and three months.
When Nietes enters the ring against Velarde next Saturday he would have reigned as a world champion in the minimum weight and light flyweight divisions for seven years, one month and 15 days, just one month and fifteen days short of establishing a new record.
Nietes knows that Velarde is a typical Mexican warrior whose aggressive style against the skill and ring savvy of the Filipino makes for an exciting fight with boxing fans in Cebu and neighboring provinces grabbing tickets and assuring ALA Promotions and partners ABS-CBN of a sell-out crowd.
Talented American strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson who has been working with Nietes, Milan Melindo, Prince Albert Pagara and Rocky Fuentes told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports is in ?far better shape? than when he hammered mandatory challenger Moises Fuentes into submission, dropping him three times in the 9th round before referee Robert Byrd called a halt.
Even though Nietes who has a record of 33-1-4 with 19 knockouts is 32 years old Curson believes the soft-spoken champion with a stinging jab and a powerful right ?is really entering his prime and will display the same power and speed as he did in his last fight but with superior endurance and a few new tricks up his sleeve.?
Curson said he expects Nietes ?to win decisively? although he knows Velarde can create problems.
Although Velarde lost by a 5th round TKO in his fight against WBA minimum champion Ryo Miyazaki on May 8, 2013 the Mexican was in the battle all the way with all three judges scoring it an even 38-38 at the end of four rounds before Velarde got a little careless and paid the price.
He has clearly learned from that lesson and scored three victories since then against worthy opponents, boosting his confidence for the Nietes showdown.
Photo: Nietes (R) in action against Moises Fuentes last May.
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