PINOY PRIDE 31 BOXERS AT THE INSULAR MALL (PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Jun 2015
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu, Philippines ? The ALA gym boxers who will headline the 31st edition of Pinoy Pride had another public sparring session Saturday at the Insular Mall. WBO junior flyweight world champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes gave fans a glimpse of what to expect on July 11 when he faces the tough former unified WBO/IBF minimumweight champ Francisco Rodriguez,Jr.
Nietes (35W-1L-4D,21KO?s) showed he was nearing his peak form against sparring partner Raul Yu, a junior bantamweight who was picked as the champ?s sparmate because of his height and fighting style which is similar to that of the Mexican challenger.
Rodriguez (17-2-1,11KO?s) is known for dethroning Nietes? stablemate Merlito Sabillo last year by TKO in the 10th round in Mexico. Rodriguez visited Cebu City last November and issued a challenge to Nietes. Rodriguez however, wound up with a split draw against Jomar Fajardo and had to fight Fajardo again in Mexico a couple of months later, earning a unanimous verdict.
Nietes vs Rodriguez will be the main event of of Pinoy Pride 31: Clash of the World Champions at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Nietes (R) spars with junior bantamweight Raul Yu at the Insular Mall in Mandaue City, Cebu Friday.
Magasayo (L) spars with Elmo Traya.
US-bound Villanueva spars with Virgel Vitor.
KJ Cataraja (R) spars with Sultan.
Rolly Gasca (R) spars with Mark Bernaldez.
Fans who were present had a chance to have their photos taken with Nietes after the workout.
Blue chip prospect Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo (10-0,8KO?s) will be going for his first belt - the IBF Youth featherweight title - against Rafael Reyes (16-4,12KO?s) of Mexico on the main supporting bout. Magsayo sparred with Elmo Traya for two rounds. Magsayo also had a great learning experience sparring with multi-division champ Nonito Donaire at the ALA Gym.
A special attraction on this card will be the pro debut of multi-awarded amateur Kevin Jake Cataraja, who will be fighting a foreigner, Indonesian Ardi Tefa (6-4,4KO?s). Cataraja?s sparring session was against Jonas Sultan.
Fans also got to witness Roli ?Zuma? Gasca vs Mark ?Machete? Bernaldez, Christian Bacolod vs Michael Kaibigan and ?King? Arthur Villanueva, who sparred with Virgel Vitor.
Villanueva will be fighting for the vacant IBF world superflyweight title on July 18 in Texas against McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico.
The promotional event was opened by three amateur contests.
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