NIETES RETAINS TITLE WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN IN SWELTERING HEAT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Aug 2010
Soft spoken and unassuming World Boxing Organization minimum weight champion Donnie ?Ahas/Snake? Nietes retained his world title with a twelve round unanimous decision over 21 year old hometown boy Mario Rodriguez in Sinaloa, Mexico.
The sweltering heat atop the ring drained Nietes who faded in the last few rounds but dominated the fight most of the way and according to international matchmaker/promoter Sampson Lewkowicz it was ?an excellent fight where Nietes won the first eight rounds but lost the last four.?
Lewkowicz said it was between 115 and 120 degrees in the ring and Nietes who didn?t even have an electric fan in his dressing room was sweating profusely even before he entered the ring before a huge crowd that was rooting for Rodriguez.
Both Nietes and ALA boxing gym trainer Edito ?Ala? Villamor who assisted Nietes? trainer Edmund Villamor in the corner said it was the excellent physical condition of Nietes that helped him in an action-packed bout in unbearable heat.
According to Edito Vllamor the decision was lopsided with one judge having Nietes the winner almost by a shutout 119-110, the other 118-110 and the third 116-112. The referee was Raul Caiz Sr while the judges were Levi Martinez, Alejandro Lopez Cid and Thomas Nardone.
He said ?it was a tough fight and he (Rodriguez) is a tough boxer? even as Villamor praised Nietes for being ?a skilled and fearless fighter.?
It was Nietes fourth successful title defense, three of them in Mexico which has turned out to be a lucky hunting ground for one of the most underrated world champions in the Philippines.
In a post fight interview with insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Nietes said it was ?a great fight and action-packed for all twelve rounds. Rodriguez was very durable and strong but he never really hurt me. I could take his best shots but I always watched out for his left hook? which was the challenger?s best punch.
Nietes said he ?hurt him in the early rounds with my overhand right and he was groggy.?
When we watched Nietes train for the title defense both in Cebu where he sparred with OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes and skilled, world-rated Milan Melindo and later worked out in the Elorde Gym in Gilmore, San Juan, it was clear that Nietes was in great shape.
Nietes has been training since February waiting for a title defense to happen which ultimately came along under a promotional undertaking of Mexican legend Erik ?El Terrible? Morales.
With the win Nietes improved his record to 27-1-3 with 15 knockouts while Rodriguez dropped to 10-6-3 with 7 knockouts. (More to follow).
Nietes looked not only quicker but stronger in training which he attributed to the new conditioning coach of the ALA Gym.
Nietes who tipped the scales exactly at the 105 pound limit at the official weigh-in in the middle of the busy Corridegidora Street in downtown Guasave which is a small town with only one major hotel told us that he was not taking any chances with a hometown decision and would go for a knockout but although it didn?t materialize it was clear that he dominated his opponent and received a very f air decision in his Mexican opponents hometown.
Nietes is determined to set a new record of holding on to his title longer than the late world junior lightweight champion Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde who reigned for almost seven-and-a-half years. Nietes told us he wants to fight for another 10 years and hang on to his title. At the same time he expressed his gratitude to his countrymen who have supported him throughout his career.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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