NIETES REWRITES PHL BOXING HISTORY
By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 Nov 2014
CEBU CITY ? Murcia-born and Bacolod pride Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes kept his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight belt and rewrites history last Saturday after stopping Mexican challenger Carlos ?Chapito? Velarde in their title match in Pinoy Pride 28: History in the Making at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino here.
International veteran referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight just before the start of the Round 8 as per advice of Velarde?s corner. This after the Mexican challenger suffered a deep cut on his left eyebrow caused by accidental head clash with Nietes in the seventh.
Both fighters had some acid testing in the opening round as they hardly hit each other ? with only few jabs launched. But, Nietes displayed some forms in the second round with couple of head and body combinations forcing Velarde to back-off in few occasions. Yet, it wasn?t really a solid round for Nietes as he played his usual technical boxing on the Mexican.
Exchange of blows from both fighters in succeeding rounds wowed the jam-packed crowed of Waterfront?s grand ball but, Nietes managed to control the momentum.
In the fifth and sixth, Nietes landed some solid punches on Velarde but, the later came out tough on counter pushing the champion at the corner for several occasions. However, Nietes has able to escape the trap and bring back the fight at the middle of the canvas.
ON NIETES? VICTORY
With Nietes successfully defended his title, he is just a month and a half to formally surpass the seven years and three months record as the longest world champion in history set by Filipino boxing legend Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde in 1967.
Nietes? father, Jeshua, in teary eyes said during the post-match interview that he and his wife are very nervous during the fight and only recovered when they saw American referee Byrd raised their son?s hand. ?We can?t keep our emotions. He?s our son. We always feel the scare, the worry every time he fights,? the elder Nietes said.
?And, we are very proud of him, not only that he?s a champion but, because of his contribution to the history of Philippine boxing.
For ALA Promotions International President/CEO Michael Aldeguer, he?s very happy and contented with match?s result.
?Nietes really had a good fight. And it takes two to tango. He (Nietes) was trying to knock Velarde that time but, there was the cut. But, we are very pleased that Nietes won,? Aldeguer said.
Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, meanwhile, said that he believed Nietes deserved the win.
?Whatever he plans with his career, I hope he will be successful. I wish he will have a longer reign as champion. He has made a legacy which I think will no longer be broken by any Filipino boxer.?
For Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella, who unable to make it to the fight due to prior appointment said that if anyone deserves to surpass Elorde?s record, Nietes has it. ?He?s a humble and talented guy just like the ?Flash.? Humility is hard to find these days in champions,? the local chief executive said.
GAMEPLAN
Coach Edmund Villamor explained why Nietes seemed to start slow in the opening round.
?If you noticed that Velarde?s camp wanted to get inside Nietes in the early round and to force him to bet tired as well as to prevent Donnie to throw over hand and straight punches. This is their plan,? Villamor said. ?But, if your look at the next succeeding rounds, Velarde don?t want to fight Nietes at distance because he?s cautious that he would be knocked down,? the veteran mentor added.
Meanwhile, as Nietes celebrated his victory, former WBO minimumweight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo of Bacolod City got his second defeat in the hands of Indonesian Faris Nenggo in the fourth round. Sabillo got a cut on the lower part of his right eye which prompted Dr. Rene Bonsubre to stop the fight to prevent further injury.
Complete results: Milan Melindo won by unanimous decision over Saul Juarez (115-113, 116-112 and 118-111); ?Prince? Albert Pagara also won by unanimous decision over Raul Hirales of Mexico (120-107, 120-107 and 119-108); WBO and IBF world champion Francisco Rodriguez of Mexico and Filipino Jomar Fajardo ended their 10-round clash on a majority draw; AJ Banal booked a UD victory over Maxsaisai Sithsaithong of Thailand; as featured fighter Mark Magsayo won by 2nd round TKO over Korea?s Moon-San Jung.(WATCHMEN DAILY JOURNAL)
http://www.watchmendaily.com/sports/pinoy-pride-28-nietes-stops-velarde-8th-rewrites-phl-boxing-history/
Top photo: Murcia-born and Bacolod pride Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes in an interview with Henceboy Cestina (dyRL Abyan Rado) and Rex Cantong (dyEZ Aksyon Rado Bacolod) after defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight belt last Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. (SCOOP-Bacolod Photo)
Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano congratulating Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes for the victory and writing another history Philippine boxing. (SCOOP-Bacolod Photo)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jerome S. Galunan Jr..
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