NIETES WINS!
Adds a 4th World Title for the Philippines
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 01 Oct 2007
CEBU CITY -- Unheralded Negrense Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes of the ALA Boxing Gym won by unanimous decision over previously undefeated Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym of Thailand to capture the WBO minimumweight crown at the Waterfront Hotel late last night and gave the Philippines its fourth world title this year and the first world title for the famed ALA Stable of Antonio L. Aldeguer.
Nietes (22-1-0 13KOs) boxed beautifully in the first four rounds and showed great defensive skills which Pornsawan (20-1-0 15KOs) was unable to penetrate. Midway in the 4th, Nietes sent Porsawan to the canvas by a body and head combo capped by a right straight to the jaw. At this point Nietes was dominating Pornsawan and the fight was developing to be a shutout victory for Nietes.
The Thai, as if stung by the knockdown in the fourth, came charging back in the fifth and opted to fight inside coupled with relentless punching which caught Nietes offguard. Pornsawan clearly took the fifth round.
Pornsawan continued to pressure Nietes in the sixth round with his non-stop but mostly ineffective punching. The phone-booth style of fighting however took away Nietes's well-timed bombs which needed some space to detonate as Nietes showed signs of fatigue.
Pornsawan continued to bully Nietes, who was running out of stamina, in the remainder of the fight but Nietes had clearly won several of the remaining rounds when he backpedalled and boxed with the ever-surging Thai. Pornsawan had been deducted a point in the 10th round for low blows after several warnings.
Judge Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines had it 116-110, Levi Martinez of the U.S., 115-111 and Sawaeng Taweekoon of Thailand, 114-113, all for Nietes.
Nietes's victory capped a successful evening for the ALA Boys.
Top superfly prospect and rising star AJ 'Bazooka' Banal made short work of Mexican super flyweight champion Esau Gaona with a first round demolition topped by three knockdowns to capture the WBO Youth super flyweight title.
Robert Allanic successfully defended his WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight crown over In Suk Song of Korea by 11th round TKO.
Rocky Fuentes defended his Philippine flyweight title by outpoint top contender Danilo Lerio over 12 rounds. Another ALA prospect, super featherweight James Bacon, fighting in his second professional fight, sent Roldan Sayson of Cagayan de Oro to the stretchers by a 3rd round TKO. Bacon and Sayson exchanged knocked downs in the 2nd round.
Nietes, the new WBO minimumweight champion, has now joined the exclusive group of reigning Filipino world champions headed by Florante Condes (minimumweight, IBF), Nonito Donaire, Jr. (flyweight, IBF, IBO) and Gerry Pe?alosa (bantamweight, WBO).
The unassuming Donnie Nietes also finally gave the ALA Stable its first world crown after a history of failed bids. Last year, Gorres lost a controversial decision to superfly Mexican champ Fernando Montiel; Czar Amonsot also failed his bid against Michael Katsidis in a lightweight bout last July; and ALA's brightest star Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista came crushing to the canvas after being bombed by Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico in the first round of their superfbantam fight last August 11.
Referee Caiz (C) raises the hands of Donnie Nietes after Nietes was announced the winner as Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym was comforted by his manager.
Nietes (L) tags Pornsawan with a body shot.
Pornsawan down on all fours after being hit by Nietes's perfectly timed right straight as the referee comes in for the count.
In one of the undercards, AJ Banal (R) downs Esau Gaona in the first round as referee Bruce McTavish comes in for the count.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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