Presscon: Nietes and Team Fly to the U.S. ahead of SUPERFLY 3 Sep 8 on HBO
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 03 Aug 2018
CEBU CITY, Philippines -- Filipino Three-Division World Champion Donnie Nietes, together with his coaches Edito Villamor and Edmund Villamor of the ALA Boxing Stable held an engaging farewell press conference with members of Cebu Sports Media today (Aug 3) at St. Mark's Hotel in Cebu City as Donnie and his ALA boxing team fly to Los Angeles, U.S.A. tomorrow (Aug 4) ahead of his world title fight against Aston Francis Palicte September 8 in the co-main event of HBO's highly successful SUPERFLY series.
The experienced 36 year-old Nietes (41-1-4, 23 KO's) born in the Philippine Visayas Province of Negros Occidental will face fellow Filipino, hard-swinging warrior Aston "Mighty" Palicte (24-2, 20 KO's) for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight strap; a clash that will mark the third time in history that two Filipino fighters meet in the square ring to battle a world title in pro boxing.
During the presscon, Donnie Nietes and his coaches, Edito and Edmund, looked confident and in good spirits while facing the important task ahead of them.
"We are confident because we have already spent weeks of hard training and sparring in the U.S.A. and also here and will be ready for this important fight come September 8, said Edito Villamor, head coach of the famed ALA Boxing Gym. "Plus, Donnie has the experience and the ring smarts to overcome a strong, taller opponent in Palicte."
Two-division world champion Donnie Nietes at Friday's presscon at St Mark's Hotel in uptown Cebu City.
"Actually, I know Palicte," said Nietes. "He even fought and beat in boxing a cousin of mine years ago during amateur years. Palicte's home in the Province of Negros Occidental is near my own home. We come from the same part of the Philippines; and I am aware that Palicte is a very big fighter wanting to overpower me," commented Donnie Nietes, who has been a long time world champion and is the star attraction of the highly successful Philippine boxing outfit ALA Boxing Promotions.
Members of the Cebu Sports media asked questions during the presser.
A reporter's question: "Coach Edito, if your fighter Donnie Nietes beats Aston Palicte in SUPERFLY 3, who would you like him to fight next?"
Edito's Answer: "If Donnie beats Palicte, and I believe he will, I would like Donnie to fight Mexican former world champion Juan Francisco "Gallo" Estrada. I know the Mexican Estrada well. He fought Melindo in a war. Estrada is a really good fighter, a tough challenge to overcome. So, I think Nietes-Estrada would be a great fight. But first we have to deal with Palicte. We respect him and do not overlook anybody," replied the poupular 37 year-old head coach Edito Villamor, a former world class fighter himself.
L-R: Trainer Edmund Villamor, Nietes and ALA matchmaker Edito Villamor.
Meanwhile, coach Edmund Villamor, younger brother of Edito, also expressed his 100% trust in the ring smarts and experienced of Nietes, whom he helped develop from a skinny 4-rounder rookie boxer into a world class fighter.
"Boxing is our work. We know what to do in the ring. Donnie, Edito and me fly from Cebu to (the Philippine's Capital) Manila and from there to Los Angeles on Philippine Airlines. The rest of the ALA team will join us two weeks before the fight," assured the bald Edmund, a retired former 105-pounder boxer, now probably in the super middleweights.
The Donnie Nietes vs Aston Palicte is one of the three hot fights scheduled to thrill fans on HBO's SUPERFLY 3 September 8 at the legendary Forum in Inglewood, California; the main event being the 12-rounder clash between popular hard-puncher Mexicans Juan Francisco "Gallo" Estrada (36-3, 25 KO's) of Hermosillo, Sonora and Felipe Orucuta (36-4, 30 KO's) of Ciudad Nicol?s Romero in El Estado de M?xico.
In addition, SUPERFLY 3 features sensational 3-Division world Champion Kazuto Ioka (22-1, 13 KO's) of Osaka, Japan, colliding like a train against Puerto Rican McWilliams Arroyo (17-3, 14 KO's). The amazing Kazuto Ioka is back in the ring since April of last year, now aiming at a world title shot against any of the world champions in the Super Flyweights.
In attendance during Niete's press conference were Philboxing's director Dong Secuya, Edri Aznar of Sunstar, Erwin S. Lirazan of Super Balita, Radio personality/Ring Announcer John Magat, Levi B. Deresas, ALA's Jeana Alvarez and Lelaini Perpetua; as well as Columnist Atty Jingo Quijano and Sports reporter Lemuel P. Maglinte.
SUPERFLY 3 at the Forum of Inglewood on September 8 is a 360/K2 production of promoter Tom Loeffler live on HBO.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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