It’s not over for Nietes
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 16 Jul 2022
Former four-division world champion Donnie Nietes isn’t hanging up his gloves after losing a unanimous 12-round decision to defending WBO superflyweight champion Kazuto Ioka in Tokyo last Wednesday. Nietes, 40, is coming home today and after taking a rest, will head back to the gym to prepare for his next battle.
Nietes said his manager Ahmed Seddiqi of D46 Promotions is arranging a fight, likely in Dubai, before the year ends. “’Di nakapunta si Ahmed sa laban pero tumawag siya pagkatapos,” he said. “Bahala si Ahmed kung kailan ako lalaban uli. Two years ang kontrata namin at may isang taon pa kami.”
Nietes beat Ioka on a split 12-round verdict in Macau four years ago but in the rematch, he conceded defeat. “Nagbago ang style ni Ioka,” he said. “Umiwas siya, natakot sa counter ko kaya sa labas lumaban at tumakbo. ‘Di ko mahuli. First time ko lumaban sa Japan pero ‘di ako nanibago. Mas may pressure kung ang laban sa hometown ko. ‘Di ako kontento sa aking performance. Kulang ako sa puntos, kulang sa pressure.”
Nietes suffered cuts over both eyebrows. Ioka opened a small gash on Nietes’ right eyebrow in the middle rounds and a deep wound above his left eye with a right hook in the 10th. Nietes said an overhand right stunned Ioka in the seventh and a right uppercut also caught his attention in the ninth.
Nietes’ coach Edmund Villamor said he accepted the decision but disagreed with the wide margins. Judge Waleska Roldan scored it a shutout, 120-108 while judge William Lerch saw it 117-111 and judge Gerardo Martinez 118-110, all for Ioka. The official WBO fight report noted that it was a “complete domination by Ioka.” Nietes took his first loss in 18 years, snapping an unbeaten string of 37 bouts. Neither fighter was in danger of falling as Ioka controlled the action with a stiff left jab, keeping away from Nietes who failed in cutting off the ring to pin down his opponent.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Warriors Buck Pressures, Whip Lakers, 123-116
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 04 Apr 2025May 4: Rohan Polanco-Fabian Maidana Welterweight Showdown & The Return of Emiliano Fernando Vargas Added to Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas ESPN+-Streamed Undercard at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Richard Torrez Jr. and Guido Vianello Ready to Trade Leather in Las Vegas Heavyweight Headliner
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Avoided Kingsley Ibeh Demands his Seat at The Heavyweight Table
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Alex Bray Signs Promotional Agreement with Boxlab Promotions
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PRE-SALE TICKETS FOR THE 2025 US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP AVAILABLE FROM 14 APRIL
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PSME Abu Dhabi overall champion in the PTC-WED in UAE
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Apr 2025The Hard Road of Young Nationalista
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 03 Apr 20255 Pinoy boxers to fight in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Transatlantic Clash II - "Battle at the Bridge"
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Marco “El Tiburón” Romero moving up to scheduled 6-round bout next
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Filipino chess phenom wins at Spring Blitz Chess Championship in Dubai
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Thu, 03 Apr 2025IM Bagamasbad eyes GM title in Australian Chess Circuit
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025