NIETES? OPPONENT ARRIVES TONIGHT
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 21 Jan 2010
Jesus Silvestre of Mexico is expected to arrive in Manila at 7 PM tonight to face WBO minimumweight champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes (25-1-3, 14 KOs) of the Philippines. ALA Promotions Vice Pres. Dennis Canete said that the abrupt cancellation of Nietes? scheduled opponent Ivan Meneses caused problems in finding an opponent to fill in at a moment?s notice.
Nietes holds the singular distinction of having back to back successful title defenses in Mexico last year against Mexican challengers Erik Ramirez and Manuel Vargas. He was once again in danger of having a fight cancelled like what happened to the Vargas fight that was postponed three times due to various reasons like swine flu and problems finding sponsors.
Silvestre was reportedly in shape preparing for a fight and also brave enough to face Nietes in his own country.
Jesus "Negrito" Silvestre (15W (KO 12)- L1) is from Nayarit, Mexico, the site of Nietes vs Vargas. According to those who accompanied Nietes in that fight, Silvestre saw the champ and his stablemate Z Gorres.
Silvestre won the interim WBC Youth minimumweight title by split decision over countryman Julio Cesar Felix in November 2008. He has never fought outside of Mexico but has won by KO in four of his last five wins.
The fight will be a ten round non-title bout but Nietes has a lot to lose as the title will most likely be declared vacant if he loses. Silvestre has everything to gain as he will be the toast of his hometown if he beats Nietes.
The fight will be in the undercard of IBF junior flyweight champion Brian Viloria (26-2, 15 KOs) second title defense against Carlos ?El Olimpico? Tamara (20-4, 14 KOs) of Colombia. on January 23rd at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The ?Hawaiian Punch? traces his roots to the Ilocos Region here in the Philippines. He was originally scheduled to face Omar Nino Romero in December but negotiations fell through. Viloria?s last title defense was a unanimous decision win against Jesus Iribe (16-6, 10 KOs) in Honolulu back in August. Viloria is trained by former junior lightweight champion Robert Garcia at the La Colonia Boxing Gym in Oxnard, California.
This will be Viloria's second fight here in the Philippines. Last April he won the IBF title from Mexico's Ulises Solis with a dramatic 11th round knockout at the Araneta Coliseum.
This fight card will also feature Jimrex ?The Executioner? Jaca (28 W (KO 13) - L 6 -D 3), who will return to the ring after being absent for a year against Ramadhan ?Ransom? Weriu of Indonesia. The 26 year old Jaca was on a three fight losing streak in 2008 and was inactive for the whole of 2009. He has not won a fight since the 7th round KO of Simson Butar-butar of Indonesia at the Cebu Coliseum in 2007. Jaca is a talented boxer and is best known for his gallant 9th round KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2006.
The 30 year old Weriu (13 W (KO 12)-L 2 - D 1) won by KO or TKO in his last four fights. Last November he won the Indonesian lt.welterwieght belt via 4th round TKO over Billy Sumba.
Philippine lightweight champ Jason Pagara (20W (KO 10) - L 1) will face Eddy Comaro of Indonesia. The 23yo Comaro (22 W(KO 8) ? L 6 ? D 5) drew in his last fight against Simson Butar-butar. He has fought and lost for regional belts like the PABA and WBO Oriental titles.
Pagara won his last fight at the Waterfront Hotel last October 2009 - a 10 round ring war against Decha Bankluaygym of Thailand.
Weigh-in of the boxers will be on Friday morning. The fight is billed as BOXING AT THE BAY: COLLISION COURSE and will be televised by Solar sports and Solar TV.
(Headre photo: Donnie Nietes with his pet python at the ALA gym)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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