SPORTS SHORTS 93: DONNIE NIETES IS READY TO RUMBLE IN DUBAI
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 31 Mar 2021
Longest reigning Filipino world champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes is all ready to rumble in his coming ring comeback after a two-year inactivity. He will battle veteran Colombian fighter Pablo Carrillo for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) international super flyweight title on April 3 at the Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, UAE.
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The Nietes-Carrillo match is one of the featured fights of D4G Promotions’ “Legacy” show and will be on the undercard of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super featherweight champion Jamel Herring of the United States against former IBF featherweight titlist Carl Frampton of the United Kingdom.
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“We are ready,” Nietes’ coach Edmund Villamor was quoted by SunStar Cebu. Nietes and Villamor flew from Cebu to Dubai on March 30. For Nietes (42-1-5, 23 KOs) this is a huge and very important fight because this is his key to enter the world rankings and fight for a world title, according to Villamor.
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If he wins impressively he will seek a matchup with Chocolatito Gonzalez, Kazuto Ioka or Juan Francisco Estrada. He last fought on December 31, 2018, when he defeated Ioka by split decision for the vacant WBO super flyweight title in Macau.
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Despite the long layoff, the 38-year-old Nietes keeps working back into shape at the Villamor Brothers Boxing Gym. He sparred with former ALA stablemates Jeo Santisima and KJ Cataraja.
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Nietes hopes to face some of the best super flyweights, the likes of Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman Gonzalez, Ioka and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, before he calls it a career.
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Nietes' focus is still on Carrillo even if he plans to fight the best super flyweights in the world like Estrada, Gonzalez, Ioka and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, before hanging his gloves.
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“We are not taking him lightly because he has fought some big names,” said Villamor. Carrillo is ranked No. 8 by the World Boxing Association with a ring record of 25-7-1 with 16 KOs. Alias "El Trencito" meaning the choo-choo train, age 32 years of Valledupar, Colombia, is an orthodox fighter who stands 5′0½″ or 154cm.
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Carrillo shorter than the 5'3" Nietes. He also lost to Ioka by unanimous decision on September 16, 2014. Another common opponent is Francis Rodriguez Jr, who stopped Carrillo in March 24, 2018. In contrast, Nietes triumphed over Rodriguez by unanimous decision on July 11, 2015.
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“We have to watch out for his favorite punch, his overhand,” said Villamor. Carrillo has not fought for more than a year. His last fight was on August 23, 2019, when he stopped Venezuelan Luis Gonlindano in five rounds for the World Boxing Association Fedebol super-flyweight championship.
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Herring (22-2, 10 KOs) served two military tours in Iraq in the marines, and he feels all he experienced through his life leading to his battle with Frampton (28-2, 16 KOs). “I want to be known as one of the best marines to represent in the sport of boxing, and to continue that tradition of marines in boxing," he said.
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Herring added that he was always been a fan of Frampton. The British was named Fighter of the Year at one point, and knows what it takes to win title fights. He wants to make history, and his legacy is already cemented, according to the marine boxer.
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“He didn’t need this fight, as win lose or draw he’ll go down as one of the best, but a win here for me solidifies me as a legitimate super featherweight world champion," stated Herring.
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Two-time All-Star Andre Drummond will start in his Los Angeles Lakers debut against the Milwaukee Bucks, coach Frank Vogel confirmed. The Lakers signed Drummond on Sunday after a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers last week. "The level of excitement for me is at an all-time high,” Drummond said.
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Drummond will replace Marc Gasol in the Lakers’ starting lineup, as he averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 25 starts with the Cavs this season. He hasn’t played since February 12, when Cleveland benched him to give ample playing time to the younger Jarrett Allen.
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Pierre de Coubertin organized the first Olympics in modern history at the end of the 19th century. Fourteen nations competed for gold, silver, and copper which was later changed to bronze. The Athens 1896 Olympic Games took place on April 6–15, 1896.
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The inaugural Games of the modern Olympics were participated by 280 athletes, all male, from 12 countries. The athletes competed in 43 events covering athletics (track and field), cycling, swimming, gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling, fencing, shooting, and tennis.
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Hungary sent the only national team and most of the foreign athletes were wealthy college students or members of athletic clubs. A festive atmosphere welcomed the foreign athletes and they were greeted with parades and banquets. A crowd estimated at more than 60,000 attended the opening day.
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The track-and-field competition was dominated by athletes of the United States, who won 9 of the 12 events. The swimming events were held in the Bay of Zea. Two of the four swimming events were won by Alfréd Hajós of Hungary. Paul Masson of France won three of the six cycling races.
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The 1896 Olympics featured the first marathon, which traced the route of Pheidippides, a runner said to have been sent from Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of an invading Persian army in 490 BCE. The race became the highlight of the Games and was won by Spyridon Louis, a Greek whose victory made him a national hero.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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