NIETES RETAINS TITLE BY 7TH ROUND TKO; ON THE CREST OF SURPASSING ELORDE?S RECORD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Nov 2014
Cebu City, November 15, 2014 - World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes retained his title when Mexican challenger Carlos Velarde failed to come out for the 8th round after suffering a nasty gash in the seventh round due to an accidental clash of heads which was unfortunately initiated by the Mexican, before an overflow crowd at the Waterfront Resort Hotel and Casino in Cebu City, Saturday.
The cut on Velarde?s right eyebrow bled profusely and after ring physician Dr. Jose Unabia examined the cut and told international referee Robert Byrd the fight could continue, Nietes used his left jab and telling right straight to rip the cut wide open and with blood streaming from the gash, Velarde?s corner decided to call it quits.
It was a solid but not spectacular performance by Nietes who walked into the ring with a huge python draped around his neck and proceeded to strangle any offense of Velarde with good movement and solid combinations.
As Nietes found his rhythm he drove Velarde against the ropes in round six and nailed the 24 year old Mexican with serious intent to hurt him which prompted Velarde to fight back in a desperate attempt to turn the fight around before the accidental clash of heads led to the decision to throw in the towel at the end of the seventh round.
With the win Nietes reached a high-water-mark in his career by remaining undefeated for 7 years, 1 month and 15 days as he chases the record of 7 years and 3 months established by the great Hall-of-Famer, the late Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde who reigned as world junior lightweight champion for seven years and three months.
This means that the 32 year old Nietes will surpass the longtime record of Elorde on January 1, 2015 which will significantly be on the eve of Elorde?s death in the early hours of January 2 signifying that from the ashes of one all-time Filipino great another champion in Nietes, arises.
PHOTOS BY DONG SECUYA.
Nietes gets the victory over Velarde Saturday in Cebu.
Albert Pagara scores a knockdown over Hirales Saturday night.
In the best bout of the star-studded card, 20 year old Prince Albert Pagara scored his most impressive victory against hardened Mexican veteran Raul Hirales to remain unbeaten even as the reigning IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight champion served notice he is primed for bigger things in the near future.
Oozing with confidence The Prince who would be king dropped Hirales with a vicious flurry capped by a cracking right on his way to scoring a shutout on the scorecards of two judges ? Ian Scott of New Zealand and Alejandro Lopez Cid of Mexico ? while Filipino judge Gil Co gave Hirales one round in turning in a 119-108 tally although there were several close rounds which Pagara won anchored on his aggressiveness and his volume of punches that often broke through the peek-a-boo defense of Hirales.
Pagara who improved his record to 22-0 with 15 knockouts said Hirales was ?really tough and that is why I was not able to knock him out.? With the loss Hirales drops to 22-4-1 with 11 knockouts.
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