'RAYITO' GARCIA: ?I WON'T BE NIETES' 15TH MEXICAN VICTIM? (PHOTOS)
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 26 May 2016
BACOLOD CITY ? ?That will not happen.?
That was what former world champion Raul 'Rayito' Garcia answered when asked point blank if he would be Donnie Nietes's 15th Mexican victim as Nietes and Garcia met for the first time in person during the official press conference Thursday afternoon at the L'Fisher hotel here ahead of their world title bout this coming Saturday at the St. La Salle Coliseum on 'Pinoy Pride 36 ? A Legend in the Making'.
Nietes, who is notoriously well known in Mexico as a 'Mexican Destroyer' and 'Mexican Terror', is 14-0-1 against his Mexican opponents with the draw against Moises Fuentes he avenged by a knockout win in their rematch. Among the list of Nietes's Mexican victims, aside from Fuentes, are world champions Francisco Rodriguez, Rayito's twin brother Ramon, Manuel Vargas and Mario Rodriguez. Nietes also successfully defended his title three times inside Mexico.
Rayito, who earlier said he will knock out Nietes within five rounds, said that he comes to the Philippines to redeem Mexican pride, avenged the loss of his twin brother whom Nietes beat in the same venue here five years ago and bring back the belt to Mexico.
?I have a very good training camp. I have prepared well for this fight and I'm ready to go to war against Nietes, beat him and bring the belt back to Mexico,? Garcia said thru an interpreter.
Garcia also added that he has more experience than the 14 Mexican boxers that Donnie had defeated.
Nietes, meanwhile, said, ?For me this is just another fight. I'm not pressured. I'm not nervous. This is just a regular fight.?
?I don't see him as the man who will be able to beat me,? Nietes added.
REMATCH CLAUSE.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer informed that Saturday's title defense by Nietes against Garcia has a rematch clause. Nietes has already been scheduled to see action against mandatory challenger Moises Fuentes on Sep. 24 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. If however Nietes loses against Garcia, Aldeguer said that Garcia is contractually obligated to give an immediate rematch to Nietes on Sep. 24, replacing Fuentes as Nietes's original opponent at the StubHub event.
Donnie Nietes and Rayito Garcia pose during the Thursday's final presscon at the L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.
Nietes and Garcia with ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and WBO supervisor Gino Rodriguez.
L-R: Milan Melindo, Arthur Villanueva, Donnie Nietes, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, WBO supervisor Gino Garcia, Rayito Garcia, Juan Jimenez and Max Flores.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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