?Ahas? prepares for ?Dragoncito?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 04 Jul 2010
One of our two remaining world champions is training hard and preparing for his fourth title defense which will be waged once again on foreign soil. Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes, the WBO minimumweight champion, will return to Mexico for the third time to face Mario ?Dragoncito? Rodriguez of Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Nietes is a seasoned veteran who gets the job done and knows how to win. He defended his title twice in Mexico last year, winning by unanimous decision over Erik Ramirez and a split decision against Manuel Vargas.
?I will try my best not to leave it to the judges this time around but to score a knockout.? Nietes said. Winning on the road twice has given Nietes a fine blend of composure and confidence.
Nietes looked very sharp when he sparred with Marjun Macahilig and other boxers in the ALA gym last Saturday afternoon. He is on target with his weight which is presently at 116 lbs. He will leave for the U.S. this July 25 and train at the Wild Card Gym before proceeding to Tijuana.
The 28 year old Nietes (26W-1L-3D, 15 KO?s) won the vacant WBO title in 2007 with a 12 round unanimous decision win over Thailand's Pornsawan (Kratingdaengym) Porpramook in a fight held at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City. His first title defense, a second round KO win against Eddy Castro of Nicaragua, was also held in Cebu.
Last January, Nietes beat another Mexican, Jesus Silvestre by tenth round TKO in a non-title bout in Pasay City. The only loss in his record was in 2004 by split decision against Anky Angkota in Jakarta,Indonesia.
Rodriguez (10W-5L-3D, 7 KO?s) won the WBC Continental Americas minimuweight title last year. His title challenge against Nietes will take place in Tijuana, Baja California.
The losses of Brian Viloria and Rodel Mayol in their second title defenses left the Philippines with only Nietes and WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao as our world boxing champions. Two Filipinos hold interim titles ? Nonito Donaire (WBA superflyweight) and Johnriel Casimero (WBO light flyweight) while Edrin Dapudong recently won the newly created WBC Silver flyweight title.
World titles are not that easy to win or defend. We hope to see the day that major corporate sponsors will regularly support the hosting of world title fights on home soil.
Top photo: World champion Donnie Nietes (L) looks for an opening during his sparring session against Marjun Makahilig at the ALA Gym in Cebu City Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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