Donnie Nietes wins Sportwriters Association of Cebu's Athlete of the Year Award
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Feb 2011
Cebu City ? He is a low key boxer in a stable filled with stars. Yet, time and time again he demonstrated that substance and not style wins world title fights. For successfully defending his WBO minimumweight title for the fourth time, Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes was honored by Cebu sportswriters Saturday afternoon with a trophy stating that he is our Athlete of the Year.
But Nietes is much more than that. He campaigns in boxing's lightest division. A man, small in stature, who weighs only 105 lbs when he fights, showed his gigantic heart for the third straight time by winning on the road, his third straight in the heartland of boxing powerhouse Mexico.
Last August 12, 2010, challenger Mario ?Dragoncito? Rodriguez took him to deep waters in the sauna-like heat of Guasave. But Nietes would not be denied. Against the jeers of an unfriendly crowd, fighting fatigue and trying to stave off his opponent's last desperate stand, Nietes made sure the title would remain in Filipino hands.
Nietes, who hails from Bacolod City, has fought as a professional from Cebu's ALA Gym since 2003. Prior to his title win in 2007 against Pornsawan Porpramook, he was just an afterthought in the minds of fight fans. But slowly but surely, the former janitor showed us that inside the ring, he is the boss.
He is soft spoken or a more appropriate description would be silent but deadly, just like his pet snakes. He has remained humble and low key despite being world champion for three years and four months. For those who have been through life's tough moments, his rise to the top of the boxing world has become a source of inspiration to us all.
Top photo: WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes (C) poses with Cebu sports writers after receiving the Athlete of the Year award during the 29th SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards held at the Ayala-Center Cebu Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dong Secuya.
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