NIETES BATTLES PORNSAWAN FOR WBO CROWN TODAY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 30 Sep 2007
ALA Boy Donnie "Ahas" Nietes will attempt to become the country's fourth Filipino world champion tonight when he faces undefeated Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym of Thailand in a 12-round showdown at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel for the vacant WBO minimumweight title.
The title had been vacated by Puerto Rican Ivan Calderon, who moved up in weight and won another WBO title in the 108-lb division.
"This will be a tremendous match-up between the two fighters. Whoever wins will be deserving of the world title," said WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo, who will supervise tonight's fights.
The third man on the ring will be American Raul Caiz Jr, while the judges are Levi Martinez (US), Salven Lagumbay (Philippines) and Sawaeng Thaweekon (Thailand).
Both Nietes and Pornsawan came in at an exact 105 lbs at the official weigh-in held yesterday at the Cebu Grand Hotel.
The weigh-in was supervised by no less than WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo and officials of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
If Nietes successfully wins the title, he will join IBF minimumweight champion Florante Condes, IBF and IBO flyweight ruler Nonito Donaire Jr and WBO bantamweight boss Gerry Penalosa as the country's reigning title-holders.
The chief support will feature the undefeated Filipino fighter AJ Banal of ALA Stable, who came in at 115 lbs, against Mexican Esau Gaona who checked in at 114.5 lbs. They will duke it out for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth superflyweight championship over ten rounds.
ALA Boy Robert Allanic is also set to defend his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight crown against Korean In-Suk Song in another 12-rounder. Both fighters came in at 118 lbs yesterday.
Korean Yong-Sung Kim will take on Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat in a 12-round rumble for the WBO Asia Pacific welterweight diadem, while another Korean, Doo-Suk Oh trades leathers with Indonesian Hero Katili for the WBF Asia Pacific light-welterweight title.
The curtain-raiser will feature an RP flyweight championship featuring defending champion Rocky Fuentes against former Olympian Danilo Lerio.
The fight will be shown 'live' both in the Philippines and Thailand. Solar Sports Cable will air it starting 7PM, while Channel 7 in Thailand has the right to broadcast the fight.
The event, set to start at 5PM and promoted by top Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani, also boasts of five other title bouts, making this card arguably the biggest boxing event in the country in recent years from top to bottom.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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