NIETES MOVES UP TO FLYWEIGHT AND FACES FORMER WORLD CHAMPION EDGAR SOSA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Aug 2016
The longest reigning Filipino world champion Donnie Nietes is moving up to flyweight to test the waters in a fight against former world champion Edgar Sosa, the 36 year old Mexican veteran who is ranked No. 4 by the World Boxing Council.
The bout is set for September 24 at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California.
Nietes was originally seeking a title shot against WBO/WBA flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada or, failing that, planned to face Moises Fuentes also of Mexico in a mandatory title defense ordered by the WBO.
However, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told the Manila Standard that Nietes wants to move up in weight and will face Sosa who has a record of 52-9 with 30 knockouts.
Sosa won the WBC light flyweight championship by beating former champion Brian Viloria by a unanimous decision on April 14, 2007 and went on to defend his title no less than ten times.
In a highly controversial decision, Sosa lost his title to Filipino Rodel Mayol in 2009 after he was badly hurt by a head-butt from Mayol which sent Sosa to the canvas and caused him to sustain an injury which was later determined to be a triple-fracture.
The referee ruled the headbutt as an unintentional foul and deducted a point from Mayol. After the ringside doctor inspected the wound, the referee allowed the fight to continue despite Sosa still being groggy from the injury. When the action resumed, Sosa was dropped and the referee waved it off moments later. Sosa, who required a metal plate to be implanted on his cheekbone due to multiple fractures, filed a protest with the WBC to have the decision changed to a "no contest".
Due to the controversial nature of his defeat the WBC declared Sosa a "champion emeritus" which entitled him to either a rematch with Mayol, or a fight with flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, once Sosa had recovered from his injuries.
Even before his controversial loss Sosa had discussed moving up in weight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Sat, 31 Jan 2026KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 31 Jan 2026THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
Sat, 31 Jan 2026Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou
Sat, 31 Jan 2026Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled
Sat, 31 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 30 Jan 2026“It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Fri, 30 Jan 2026