NIETES WINS SAC-SMB ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Apr 2015
CEBU CITY ? For surpassing a record that has stood for forty-seven years, WBO junior flyweight world champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes of the ALA Gym received the Athlete of the Year honors from Cebu sportswriters during the 33rd Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Brewery (SAC-SMB) All-Cebu Sports Awards held Tuesday at the Activity Center of Ayala Center Cebu.
Nietes, who hails from Murcia, Negros Occidental, has reigned in two weight divisions. He went past the seven year three month barrier set by a boxing legend from Cebu, Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde, when the clock signaled the start of 2015.
During the 29th edition of the SAC-SMB awards, Nietes garnered the Athlete of the Year accolade by virtue of another singular feat ? defending his world title for the third time in Mexico. Nietes at that point in time was the WBO champion in the minimumweight category.
The 32 year old Nietes (35W-1L-4D,21KO?s) is also recognized as the lineal world champion in the 108lb division by Ring magazine. The publication widely known as the 'Bible of Boxing' also ranks him at number 46 among the top 100 active boxers in the world.
He just completed another title defense last March 28 at the Araneta Coliseum, stopping Gilberto Parra of Mexico in nine rounds. For the past seven years, Nietes has beaten eleven Mexican opponents.
Nietes (C) poses with other boxing winners during the SAC-SMB awarding at the Ayala Center in Cebu City.
He is due to face another Mexican foe in July, former IBF/WBO minimumweight champ Francisco Rodriguez, Jr.
Nietes thanked the fans and sportswriters for their continuing support when he stood on stage. He cited discipline and continuous training as the best advice he can give to the up and coming athletes. His closest rivals for the coveted trophy were Philippine basketball?s tower of power June Mar Fajardo and multi-awarded long distance runner Mary Joy Tabal.
Nietes was joined on stage by his stablemates who received citations - Genesis "Azukal" Servania, "Prince" Albert Pagara and his older brother Jason "El Ni?o" Pagara, "King" Arthur Villanueva and ALA Gym trainer Edmund Villamor accepted the citation of Milan Melindo.
Amateur boxing standouts Vicente Sios-e Jr and John Ni?o Vega, Junriel Jimenez, Kit Ceron Garces and Jorge Edusma and Ian Refuela also got citations.
Nietes is on a two week break before he returns to the gym. ?He will be back in training on April 13,? Trainer Edmund Villamor said, ?He?ll go back home and rest before we work early on our strategy for Rodriguez.? Villamor was chosen as Trainer of the Year during the Elorde Awards held last week.
The Cebu Sports Awards is the Oscars of Cebu sports. It recognizes athletes who trace their roots or are based in Cebu. It is an event where student athletes get to mingle with national team members and star professionals.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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