NIETES PLANS TO MOVE UP TO SUPERFLYWEIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 24 Feb 2018
IBF world flyweight champion Donnie Nietes reveals that he has been planning to move up to the superflyweight division, and has set his target on WBC world superflyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai or challenger Juan Francisco Estrada, the main event progonists of Superfly 2.
?He?s always had plans to move up in weight, he wants to see what?s out there.? said ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer through ABS-CBN Sports. ?If Ruingvisai is available, or Estrada, he?s always wanted to fight Estrada, even before, he wanted to fight Estrada at 112 but now he?s moved up to 115. He?s focused on Saturday, but he?s also open to move up in weight. If he wins on Saturday, he wants to move up to 115 and fight anybody out there.?
Another attractive opponent for Nietes at 115 lbs. is former pound-for-pound king Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez. Nietes has been calling for a fight against the Nicaraguan former world titlist, but it never materialized. Chocolatito has revealed his intent to fight Nietes for the vacant WBO superflyweight title in Nicaragua.
?He?s always wanted to fight Chocolatito, but with Chocolatito being a champion and him being a champion, we think it?s best to fight in a neutral country, maybe in the US," said Aldeguer.
The two consecutive losses to Sor Rungvisai has removed Chocolatito from the No. 1 position of the pound-for-pound rankings of The Ring. But Nietes thinks that Gonzalez is still a threat to any boxer.
?He still feels that Chocolatito is one of the great fighters. He just felt that maybe he wasn?t training or wasn?t in top shape in the last fight, but he knows he?s still a great fighter," explained the ALA boss.
According to Aldeguer, they could not set everything in finality as it would depend on the result of Saturday?s match against Reveco. ?If he does win impressively on Saturday, hopefully we?ll see if he has to stay at 112 or move up to 115.?
?Of course names have always been there like ?Chocolatito? Gonzalez, he wants to fight the winner of Rungvisai versus Estrada, Cuardas is there, so there?s a lot at stake for Donnie, he knows what?s there, he just has to take care of business on Saturday,? Aldeguer added.
* * *
Gilas Pilipinas gave the heavily favored Australia Boomers a scare especially in the first half of their encounter in Melbourne at the start of the second window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers. But the host team showed their power in the second half, as they dominated the Filipinos, 84-68 yesterday. Gilas led 26-21 in the second quarter, but the Australians came back and regained the drivers seat, 37-32, at the halftime break.
Horrible free throw shooting led to Gilas' first loss in the World Cup qualifiers as they converted just 7-of-19 from the free throw line, a very poor 37% clip. While Australia shot 78% after making 25-of-32 from the charity. The Boomers also dominated the assists department, 16-8. Australia had a 43-23 bench scoring edge. Gilas defense limited Australia to 33% (7-of-21) from three-point territory, but Gilas only managed to sink 5-of-19 from beyond the arc.
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