PINOY PRIDE XIV: Nietes retains title, Melindo and Servania score KO wins
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 Jun 2012
PASAY CITY ? WBO jr.flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes of the ALA Gym relied on his vast experience and precision punching to turn back the challenge of Felipe Salguero of Mexico. Nietes wisely picked his spots and scored with his uppercuts and overhand rights. Blood slowly trickled from Salguero?s nose as the rounds progressed.
Salguero kept on pressing the action but he missed more than he landed. In the eighth round, Nietes? punches inflicted a cut on Salguero?s left eyebrow. Nietes had him groggy several times but could not finish him off. The Bacolod City native has been away from the ring for eight months and this could have affected his timing and blunted his instincts.
But Nietes? lateral movement and uncanny ability to slip punches made Salguero beat the air.
The judges had it closer at 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112, perhaps giving credit to the Mexican?s toughness and aggressiveness. This was Nietes? first defense he won last October 2011 against Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales.
Nietes - who is also a former WBO minimumweight world champ - won his seventh fight at the world championship stage.
MELINDO BLITZES GELES
Milan ?Metodico? Melindo made it a very short night for Jesus Geles of Colombia. Hooks to the ribs sent Geles down three times in round one. Referee Danrex Tapdasan stopped the carnage at 2:21. Melindo remains unbeaten in 27 fights and won the WBO International flyweight belt. He also scored an impressive win against a former interim world champion.
GENESIS: THE BEGINNING
In what would be the best fight of the night, Genesis ?Azukal? Servania stopped Genaro ?El Poblanito Original? Garcia of Mexico in the 12th and final round in their battle for the WBC International Silver superbantamweight title.
Servania stunned Garcia on several occasions with well-placed hooks to thebody and head. But Garcia managed to survive the early salvos and landed enough hard punches to stay in the fight. Servania built a small lead on two judges after four rounds and one judge had it even. Headbutts inflicted cuts on Servania?s right eyebrow in the 5th and his left eyebrow in the ninth round. Garcia remained aggressive and targeted Servania?s body. Servania was leading ? 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75 ? going into the 9th.
Garcia continued to pressure Servania and the fight hung in the balance. In a dramatic twelfth round, a sharp flurry stunned Garcia, sending him down. He got up but another barrage sent him reeling and referee Bruce McTavish waived it off as he hit the canvas the second time. Time 2:02.
Garcia was ahead on one judge 104-103 prior to the stoppage. Two had Servania leading 105-102.
This writer had Servania having a razor thin lead 6 rounds to 5 going into the last round (not including any deductions for the headbutts in ten point must scoring). The undefeated Servania (18W-0L, 6 KO?s) showed maturity and toughness against a veteran former world title challenger. This could very well be a portent of bigger things to come.
FOR THE OTHER UNDERCARD MATCHES:
Arthur ?El Matador? Villanueva fought through his own blood to win by split eight round decision against the rough and tough Jeffrey Cerna. A clash of heads in the opening round opened a cut on Cerna?s scalp and on Villanueva?s left eyelid.
Cerna managed to close the distance and pound Villanueva with hooks to the body and head. Another clash of heads inflicted a cut, this time on Villanueva?s right eyebrow. The action swung back and forth until the final bell. The scores ? 76-75 Cerna, 77-74 on two judges for Villanueva.
Ralph Lulu knocked down Boyce Sultan in the opening round and they traded hard shots in the subsequent rounds. The scores were all for Lulu at 78-74, 79-72 and 76-75.
Arjan Canillas beat Warren Magbuanag by majority decision. The scores 57-57, 58-55 and 58-56.
Juren Labordo won by unanimous decision against Fel Morales. The three judges? scorecards read 40-36.
In the opening bout of the evening, Eljohn Evangelista traded knockdowns with Takaoki Noma of Japan in the first round with the Filipino winning by unanimous decision ? 39-37, 40-37 and 39-37. The fights were held Saturday at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre, Resorts World Manila.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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