NIETES PROMISES TO PUT ON A SHOW AGAINST CHALLENGER SALGUERO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 31 May 2012
WBO light flyweight champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes (29-1-3, 16 KO's) realizes that he needs to entertain fight fans when they flock to the Resort World Hotel on Saturday to watch his first title defense against tough-talking Mexican challenger Felipe Salguero (16-2-1, 11 KO's) and he plans to do just that in the fight card to be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. over the pre-eminent Channel 2.
Peeved over comments by the Salguero camp who claimed they were not convinced that he won the title against Raul Garcia Hirales last October, Nietes told a pre-fight press conference he has "the skill, the speed and power to give fans a good fight" and that he had beaten several Mexican challengers in their hometown."
Nietes said he knows that boxing fans want the same kind of excitement that Manny Pacquiao provides and that he will be "ready to go twelve rounds but if there is a slight opening, the knockout will come."
Salguero is ranked No. 7 by both the WBO and the IBF and is coming off a knockout victory over world-rated Carlos Melo last January 28.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said that Nietes is one of the best fighters the Philippines but people are expecting more from him. I think Donnie has grown and he wants the big fights but styles make fights and we have told him that he has to realize that he has to go beyond just winning fights."
Nietes' challenger Salguero said he has "always been in the gym waiting for the opportunity for a title fight. He is prepared to go the distance but he wants to make it clear that he wins and the strategy is to not let it go the distance so he will win in a clear way."
While Nietes defends his world title the fight that has drawn the interest and excitement of Filipino fans is the battle between undefeated super bantamweight Genesis Servania and the real Genaro "Poblanito" Garcia (38-8, 22 KO's), the tough Mexican who has beaten five world champions in his career.
Garcia pulled up his shirt and showed off his ripped and ready body to the media and said "this is not really a fair fight because he is too experienced for Servania and he will prove that in the ring. I will take him (Servania) to school."
Speaking through an interpreter "Poblanito" Garcia said "its clear in his mind that he's going up against three Filipino judges and a referee (Bruce McTavish) who has lived in the Philippines for 40 years. He wants to make it clear by winning by a knockout."
The soft-spoken Servania conceded that Garcia "is a good boxer but I also have brains" even as he promised to provide fans with a good fight and to do his talking in the ring."
Photo: Pinoy Pride XIV's protagonists pose during Friday's press conference (front row, left to right): Milan Melindo, Genesis Servania, Donnie Nietes, Felipe Salguero, Genaro Garcia with (back row, left to right) GAB Chairman Ramon Guanzon, ABS-CBN's Peter Musngi and ALA President Michael Aldeguer. Photo by Carlos Costa.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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