NIETES SCORES MASTERFUL SHUTOUT WIN OVER EDGAR SOSA IN FLYWEIGHT DEBUT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 25 Sep 2016
The longest reigning Filipino world champion Donnie Nietes put on a masterful performance to score a shutout victory over former WBC world light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa and win the WBO Intercontinental flyweight title.
Sosa who had made ten successful title defenses, was no match for Nietes who wielded his stinging left jab like a rapier and his right like a scalpel to cut to shreds the Mexican?s hopes of making an impact in the main event of the Philippines vs Mexico fight card at the StubHub Center in California before a good crowd that clearly enjoyed the fights staged by ALA International Promotions in co-operation with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN and TFC, the widely watched global network.
Nietes who is ranked No. 1 flyweight by the WBO, completely outclassed Sosa who was ranked No. 5 by the WBC with all three judges Max DeLuca, Alejandro Rocin and Pat Russell having Nietes the winner by a 120-108 shutout which demonstrated the class, the skill and the resolve of the ALA Gym?s national legend who aims to become a world champion at 112 pounds after having earlier ruled as minimum weight and light flyweight champion for over nine years before he decided to relinquish his title and go after bigger named fighters at 112 pounds.
Nietes, a veteran of 15 world title fights wobbled Sosa a number of times with his uppercuts and right straights but never lost his composure by recklessly going for a knockout even as he sidestepped or blocked anything Sosa threw at him with ease.
Sosa?s corner-man Jorge Barrera, brother of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, kept pleading with Sosa to throw more punches going into the championship rounds because he was losing the fight telling him, ?if you want to win you have to throw more punches.?
The 9th round was short by almost one minute and was noticed by the TV panel as well as referee Moret but it made no difference to the outcome.
Nietes (R) connects with his left over Sosa during the WBO inter-continental flyweight championship bout at the StubHub Center in Carson, California Saturday night. Photo by Jhay Otamias / PhilBoxing.com.
Nietes? trainer Edmund Villamor and his brother and former two-time title challenger Edito ?Ala? Villamor and cutman Dr. Ed De La Vega, told Donnie to stick to his fight plan, ?throw the jab and use the right hand as a counter when Sosa throws his jab? which he executed with precision prompting Dyan Castillejo to refer to Nietes as ?Doctor? because of his surgical perfection in the ring.
With the Filipino fans chanting ?Nietes! Nietes!? it was obvious that Sosa needed a knockout to salvage a win with his corner telling him, ?fight for your country, your people and your family? but their efforts to motivate Sosa failed against the total domination of Nietes to the utter delight of the predominantly Filipino crowd while a few Mexicans who carried banners extolling Sosa felt a major letdown but had no complaints.
In a post-fight interview, Nietes said he didn?t take any chances although he wanted to go for a knockout but that Sosa was resilient.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Nesthy faces Indon legend
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
Sat, 13 Dec 2025