PINOY PRIDE 28: CAN VELARDE SPOIL HISTORY?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 13 Nov 2014
CEBU CITY ? For the past seven years, Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes has beaten nine Mexican boxers and remains the only Filipino to defend a world title three times on Mexican soil. But Carlos ?Chapito? Velarde remains undaunted.
When presented with these statistics by philboxing editor Dong Secuya during the final press conference held Thursday, Velarde cited boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who also had a string of stunning wins against his Mexican opponents but eventually was knocked out by a Mexican ? Juan Manuel Marquez.
?I am not Moises Fuentes, I am not Mario Rodriguez,? Velarde emphatically stated, ?I am also here to make history.?
Velarde said that Nietes is a complete champion. He has seen Nietes? fights, including those he waged in Mexico. He is confident that he is capable of stopping the ALA gym boxer.
Nietes is chasing the seven year three month barrier set by the legendary Flash Elorde. He was unruffled by his opponents pronouncements.
Nietes (L) and Velarde came face to face for the first time during Thursday's presscon at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
Melindo (L) and Juarez.
L-R: Banal, A. Pagara, Melindo, Nietes, ALA President Michael Aldeguer, Velarde, Juarez, Hirales and Rodriguez.
?He should do it inside the ring and not just talk,? Nietes said, ?I have heard a lot of Mexicans say that they will knock me out. I am fed up listening to them.?
Velarde got his ring moniker ?Chapito? from his father, who is a former boxer. It refers to someone who is of short stature. Velarde will have to be a giant on fight night to change the course of history.
Nietes? defense of his WBO jr. flyweight world title will be the main event of PINOY PRIDE XXVIII:HISTORY IN THE MAKING on November 15 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. The final presscon was held noontime today at the Waterfront?s Tin Gow Restaurant.
Nietes remained cool as a cucumber when later in the press conference, unified WBO/IBF minimumwieght world champ Francisco Rodriguez issued a public challenge to fight him.
Rodriguez is moving up in weight for his non-title fight against Jomar Fajardo of the Aljoe Jaro boxing stable in one of the undercard matches.
Fajardo told this writer after the presscon that he has trained well and he is in fighting shape.
For the IBF jr. flyweight eliminator between Milan ?Metodico? Melindo and Saul ?Baby? Juarez of Mexico, Melindo said that he feels stronger in his attempt to move down to 108 lbs. Juarez said that Melindo needs to be faster and stronger for this fight.
The IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight title defense of ?Prince? Albert Pagara against Raul Hirales of Mexico also promises to be another action packed battle.
Also set to appear on the undercards are former WBO 105lb division champ Merlito Sabillo against Faris Nenggo of Indonesia, AJ ?Bazooka? Banal will fight Maxsaisai Sithsaithong of Thailand and Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo will battle Moon-sun Jung of South Korea.
Rounding up the prelim bouts are Polid Banal vs Ritchen Rosales (4 rounds), Virgel Vitor vs Jovane Abejero (4 rounds) and Gerard Suico vs Frits Cabilla (4 rounds).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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