NIETES READY FOR BATTLE
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 07 Aug 2010
LOS ANGELES ? WBO Minimumweight Champion Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes's preparation and conditioning for his next title defense has gone down to a few more days before taking on challenger Mario 'El Dragoncito' Rodriguez of Mexico at Luis Estrada Medina Stadium in Guasave, Sinaloa on August 14.
Arriving here Saturday last week primarily to attune himself to the American time zone, Nietes and trainer Edmund Villamor, at exactly 11 am everyday, routinely take 3rd St from their Kenmore apartment heading west then turn right at Rossmore Ave straight to Vine St where the famous Wildcard Card Gym of Freddie Roach is located.
Nietes has been tapering off his training and this Friday morning, Nietes has only done a few rounds of mitts work with Villamor. However, the intensity, the quickness, the sharpness and the power of Nietes' punches when they hit the mitts where quite evident as he stood out in a gym full boxers who were also doing their regular training regimen. The months of preparation has now spread out to the body of Donnie Nietes like a pent-up volcano.
?Nagpanikad (ready to be unleashed),? the humble Nietes says with quiet confidence.
?He's ready for battle,? Villamor joined in.
?I like him and I like his style,? Vince Parra, who is now managing and co-training Filipino lightweight prospect Mercito Gesta says of Nietes. ?He reminds me very much of [former WBO bantamweight champion] Cruz Carbajal in his prime who I trained before. The way he uses his footwork, he is always ready to unleash those power shots and that is very difficult to do. His style is very different from the Filipino fighters that I saw.?
Nietes will do more light training until he breaks camp on Tuesday.
ALA Promotions Vice-President Dennis Canete and ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor are expected to hit LA Friday night. Together with Philboxing's Dr Ed de la Vega who will act as cutman and this writer, Team Nietes will depart for Mexico on Wednesday in time for the press conference and other official functions.
The Niestes vs Rodriguez world championship fight is being jointly promoted by Erik Morales' Box Latino, Sampson Boxing LLC and ALA Promotions.
Nietes works on the mitts with trainer Edmund Villamor (top photo) and shadow boxes (above) at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles on Friday. Photos by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Leading World Cruiserweight Contender Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki returns from 15-month layoff with another overpowering KO
Mon, 09 Mar 2026Roca, Bernardino share top honors in Tea Block rapid chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 08 Mar 2026Fastpitch Softball on March 20-22 in Calinan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 08 Mar 2026Opetaia vs Glanton: Dana White Crowns First Boxing Champion. Is Fight Worthy?
By Chris Carlson, Sun, 08 Mar 2026In Thrilling Showdown, Pagara Falls Short Against Polkinghorn by Points.
Sun, 08 Mar 2026Unofficial Unification Tournament Brewing For Welterweights
By Ralph Rimpell, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Fight Results from Montreal: Steven Butler Obliterates Ramadan Hiseni; Wins by Lenar Perez, Jhon Orobio and Steve Claggett
By Eric Armit, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Former Champ Junior Makabu visits WBC offices in Mexico City
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 07 Mar 2026WEIGHTS FROM SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
Sat, 07 Mar 2026Weights from Atlantic City
Sat, 07 Mar 2026PFL Releases Francis Ngannou
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 07 Mar 2026All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
Fri, 06 Mar 2026