TEN YEARS AS WORLD CHAMPION, NIETES MAINTAINS CONDITIONING AND HAS NO PLANS YET TO RETIRE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 Feb 2018
Donnie "Ahas" Nietes has been a world champion since 2007, and posseses the Philippine record of ten years, and still counting, as longest reigning world title holder. His record in world title fights is 15 wins without a loss with one draw. His draw was against Moises Fuentes, but won against the Mexican by a knockout win in the rematch. Nietes carries a 7-0-1 slate against former and current world champions. The ALA Boxing Promotions star fighter suffered his only career defeat in 2004 against Indonesia's Angky Angkota via 10-round split decision. Angkota weighed in six pounds over the weight limit for this fight. Nietes has been unbeaten in his last 32 fights with two draws.
Nietes in a mandatory title defense against former world titleholder Juan Carlos Reveco on February 24 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Nietes (40-1-4, 22 KO) is currently wearing the IBF title belt. He is currently ranked second by The Ring and ranked first by BoxRec. The 35-year-old conqueror has accomplished two fights in the US, defeating Juan Alejo in 2015 and Edgar Sosa in 2016, both matches were held at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Argentina?s Reveco (39-3, 19 KO) is the IBF flyweight No.1 contender and has been a champion at the junior flyweight and flyweight divisions. He has won three successive fights since losing a flyweight title rematch in December 2015 to Kazuto Ioka, who snatched his flyweight crown in their first fight earlier that year. Reveco's latest jaunt is a one-sided unanimous decision conquest of Thailand's Komgrich Nantapech last September in a world title eliminator that made him a mandatory challenger to Nietes. Reveco will show his boxing wares in the United States for the first time in "Superfly 2."
"For now, I have no plan to retire," Nietes told Spin.ph. "I love boxing and until my body can still make it, I will continue with this profession." Nietes fought only once last year, winning over Nantapech in April for the vacant IBF title. He did not fight for the rest of the year, but assures that he maintained his conditioning. "Even if I have only one fight, I did not leave my activity and my training continues," he said. "For now, my condition is okey, feeling still younger."
"From the start, Donnie's attitude towards training has not changed, which is very important for him," revealed trainer Edito Villamor. "Whatever you want him done, he does not complain. He always listens to the coaches of their instructions. Even if he had been a long time champion, his feels he still has lot to be done."
"Reveco is essentially a boxer, one who works behind a left jab-overhand right combination. He is relatively small at 5-2 and is susceptible to the counter right as he tends to get lazy with the left jab as he moves in," wrote boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino over Spin.ph. "Reveco is a great champion," said Villamor. "He is talented and strong but the way I see it, Donnie has the same strength. Donnie is ready."
The fighters in the small weight divisions seldom get any attention outside the Asian scene, particularly in the high-paying U.S. boxing market, which concentrates on the bigger weight divisions. But the dramatic story of the rise and fall of "Chocolatito? Gonzalez, followed by HBO Boxing?s fanfare of the ?Superfly? series, which includes the best boxers from the lower weight classes, the smaller fighters began to get recognized in the U.S. ?Of course, I?m very happy that they have given attention to the fighters in the lower weight divisions. It?s an added inspiration for us now that they have taken notice,? Nietes told SunStar Cebu.
Nietes has been included in the HBO Boxing?s ?Superfly 2? headlined by Gonzalez?s destroyer Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, who will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight title against former world titlist Juan Francisco Estrada. Also in the card is thr super flyweight bout between Carlos Cuadras and McWilliams Arroyo, while Fil-Hawaiian Brian Viloria faces undefeated Artem Dalakian for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight belt.
?I?m very happy that I?m fighting again in the US. And I?ll be fighting alongside some of the best super flyweights,? said Nietes. After two fights in the US, this will be the first time that Nietes will get the exposure that he needs because his fight will be shown to the American boxing aficionados in HBO Boxing After Dark. ?I want to show a very impressive performance and impress HBO Boxing because I still want to fight in future Superfly events,? said Nietes who has a plan of moving up to super flyweight. ?There?s a possibility but I still want to focus in the flyweight division for now,? he added.
* * *
LeBron James scored 29 points and shot the go-ahead basket with 34.5 seconds left, winning his third All-Star Game MVP award while his Team LeBron defeated Team Stephen 148-145 Sunday night. For the first time in 67 All-Star games, the league changed the traditional East-West format applied since 1951, and let the two team captains to pick their teammates. Kevin Durant scored 19 points in his ninth All-Star Game.
Stephen Curry, captain of Team Stephen contributed 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting. Klay Thompson scored all 15 of his points on 3-point shots in his fourth All-Star Game. Demar DeRozan and Damian Lillard led with 21 points apiece. Jimmy Butler didn't play after being selected for the fourth time. First-timer Karl-Anthony Towns delivered with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Kyrie Irving had 13 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Andre Drummond added 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting.
Three first-time All-Stars played - Washington's Bradley Beal scored 14 points, Miami's Goran Dragic sank two and Indiana's Victor Oladipo contributed seven. LeBron lost four players of his original choice due to injuries, including Cleveland teammate Kevin Love, Kristaps Porzingis and John Wall. Anthony Davis recognized his injured fellow New Orleans All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, by wearing Cousins' No. 0 jersey.
The 68th NBA All-Star Game will be played in Charlotte on Feb. 17, 2019. Hornets owner Michael Jordan got a standing ovation when he stood at center court with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to launch the logo for the next year's All-Star festivities.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SPORTS SHORTS 286: CHARLY SUAREZ, MARK MAGSAYO, JOHN RIEL CASIMERO, AND CARL JAMMIS MARTIN IN WBO RANKINGS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Wed, 27 Nov 2024Pinoy Fighter Blazen Rocili Remains Unbeaten with Dominant Victory in San Antonio, TX
Wed, 27 Nov 2024Filipino IM Garma trounce foes, stay in hunt for top finish
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 27 Nov 2024Camp Notes: Rafael Espinoza & Robeisy Ramirez Primed for Fight of The Year Sequel December 7 LIVE on ESPN
Wed, 27 Nov 2024Chicharito, Colocha & Manimal Take Center Stage Friday Night on ESPN KO
Wed, 27 Nov 2024Kansas super middleweight prospect 19-year-old Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Capped incredible 12-month boxing stretch
Wed, 27 Nov 2024The Past Week in Action 25 November 2024: Papot KOs Wagner; Guerfi Stops Le Couviour
By Eric Armit, Tue, 26 Nov 2024El Presidente, Grand Maestro, Kamatyas, Flash Arca and Gwapings to grace the 49th IIEE ANC and Golden sports on November 28 to 30 at SMX Pasay City
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 26 Nov 2024DC judokas win 3 golds, 1 silver in Batang Pinoy
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 26 Nov 2024Emirates NBA Cup Updates: Warriors Only Team With Clear Path to KO Round
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 26 Nov 2024Taduran defense in limbo
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 26 Nov 2024Nisa Rodriguez to return to ring Dec. 17th on “Holiday Fight Night 3” at Sony Hall in Times Square
Tue, 26 Nov 2024Lopez-Ataev main event leads international spectacular at IBA Champions’ Night Dubai
Tue, 26 Nov 2024WORLD NINEBALL TOUR ANNOUNCES THREE RANKING EVENTS TO CONCLUDE 2024
Tue, 26 Nov 2024HIGHLY COVETED TEAM GB OLYMPIAN PAT BROWN SIGNS WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Mon, 25 Nov 2024