NIETES TO FIGHT IN HOSTILE TERRITORY
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 28 Feb 2009
World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes is all ready to defend his title against Mexican Erik Ramirez at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico on Saturday, February 28 (Sunday, Manila time).
?The Snake? is eager to show to Mexico and the rest of the world what Filipino fighters are known for ? valor and willpower. With the hometown crowd surely hooting and jeering at him, Nietes is all geared up to face the Mexican challenge. He was trained by no less than the world?s Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach at the renowned Wild Card Gym.
Mexicans would simply want to avenge the losses of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez at the hands of the ?Mexicutioner? Manny Pacquiao. With a world champion in Nietes stepping into the adversary?s country, expect Mexican fans to do everything they can to demoralize the Filipino titlist.
Nietes has professional record of 23-1-3 (14 KOs) while Ramirez has 25-5-1 (19 KOs). He was not seriously considered to win against Pornsawarn Kratingdaenggym for the vacant WBO minimumweight title on September 30, 2007 at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City. But Nietes surprisingly won by unanimous decision over the Thai boxer with a knockdown in the fourth round.
In his first defense, Nietes scored an inspiring second round knockout over Nicaraguan Eddie Castro last August 30, 2008 also at the Waterfront Hotel. Nietes dropped Castro in the first round before stopping him in the second round. Castro remained motionless in the canvas after he was counted out.
A win by Nietes over Ramirez who is rated No.2 in the minimumweight category by WBO, ranked No. 6 by the World Boxing Council and No. 11 by the World Boxing Association, will no doubt spark his rise to world boxing stardom. A victory over Ramirez in a hostile territory will add glitter to his rather ordinary credentials as world champion.
Ramirez lost to Lorenzo Trejo in WBC minimum weight title eliminator by TKO in the seventh round. After that loss, Ramirez won five successive fights, four by knockouts and in his last fight, he won a unanimous ten round decision over Jose Ortiz to win the vacant WBO Latino minimumweight title.
Nietes lost only once to Angky Angkota of Indonesia in what appeared to be a hometown split decision in Jakarta in September 28, 2004. He won the WBO Asia-Pacific minimumweight title in November 24, 2006 by a second round knockout over Indonesian Heri Amol. Then after only four years of fighting as a professional, Nietes won the WBO world title and became the Philippines? 33rd world champion.
His nickname "Ahas" which is the Filipino term for "Snake" comes from the pet python he always drape around his body as he climbs the ring for the introduction in his every fight.
Nietes in Mexico. (Sitting L-R) A.J. Banal, WBO strawweight Champ Donnie Nietes & Eddie Carrera (Standing L-R) Dr. Allan Recto (cutman), ALA VP Dennis Canete, and head trainer Edmund Villamor) ... photo taken while Filipino World Champion Donnie Nietes monitors latest news update at Philboxing.com. Photo by Reiver Rodriguez.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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