NIETES GETS SHOT AT WBO MINI FLYWEIGHT TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 03 Sep 2007
Donnie “Ahas” Nietes who enters the ring with a python wrapped around his neck will try to put a stranglehold on the WBO mini flyweight championship when he battles Thailand's undefeated Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym in an unprecedented promotion featuring six title fights at the plush Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City on September 30.
Well known promoter Sammy Gello-ani of the famed ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer announced the remarkable fight card at a dinner at the Aldeguer residence Saturday night.
In the other title fights, AJ “Bazooka” Banal takes on Mexico's Jovanny “Bambino” Soto for the WBO Youth super flyweight championship, lanky Robert Allanic clashes with South Korea's In-Suk Song in a WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title fight while Philippine flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes defends his title against Danilo Lerio.
Two other title fights provide an additional international flavor when Do Seuk Ooh of Korea takes on tough Indonesian Joey Ricardo for the WBF Asia Pacific junior welterweight title and another promising Korean Yong Seung Kim faces Indonesia's Darsim Nangala for the WBO Interim Intercontinental junior welterweight title.
The 25 year old Nietes who is technically one of the most outstanding fighters from the ALA Gym has lingered in the shadows of his more popular stablemates Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, Z “The Dream” Gorres, AJ “:Bazooka” Banal and others but is deadly serious in emerging up front and proving his worth.
Nietes is managed by youthful Michael Aldeguer who is quietly assuming the mantle of his renowned father Tony Aldeguer and has a record of 19-1-3 with 11 knockouts including a second round KO over Indonesia's Heri Amol to win the WBO Asia Pacific mini flyweight championship on November 24,2006.
Pornsawan is undefeated in 20 fights, winning 15 by knockout. The 29 year old Thai who is four years older than Nietes has won three fights this year, two by knockout. In his last fight Pornsawan retained his Pan Asia Boxing Association title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Filipino Benjie Sorolla in Bangkok on August 1. He is ranked No. 3 by the WBO and No. 5 by the WBC.while Nietes is WBO No.1.
Banal's battle with Soto, the 23 year old Mexican super flyweight champion with a record of 25-7-1 including 20 knockouts may well steal the thunder from the title fight as the 18 year old Filipino southpaw is regarded as a genuine world title prospect and sports a record of 14-0-1 with 11 knockouts.
In the recent World Cup of boxing in Sacramento, California in which the Philippines routed Mexico 5-1, Banal scored one of the most impressive victories which moved him into the top ten in the WBO world ratings.
Soto has won his last seven fights by either KO or TKO and is regarded as a power puncher who should give Banal the fight of his young life. In his last fight Soto scored a TKO win over Ricardo Astorga on July 27 after an earlier KO win on March 24 over Francisco Reyes.
According to Gello-ani there are several major fights and promotions coming up involving boxers from the ALA Gym. At the same time Gello-ani disclosed that he was negotiating with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN for coverage of the September 30 blockbuster card which will be beamed “live” to Korea, Thailand and Indonesia and to a worldwide audience on The Filipino Channel TFC of the Lopez-owned network whose involvement in boxing is regarded as a major boost for the sport.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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