NIETES STEPS UP IN SPARRING SESSIONS
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Apr 2014
CEBU CITY ? Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes and Milan ?El Metodico? Melindo may never get to fight each other in a real boxing match so watching them spar for four rounds inside the ALA Gym was the next best thing.
Nietes, the WBO world light flyweight champion, engaged Melindo in a shootout; both boxers exchanged well placed punches at a fast pace showcasing their high skill level.
Melindo, the WBO International flyweight titlist, will be fighting against Martin Tecuapetla of Mexico on the undercard of Nietes? rematch against Mexican Moises Fuentes.
Nietes then shifted his attention to Melvin Gumban, an unbeaten superflyweight prospect. After forcing Gumban to take a defensive stance with his accurate shots for another four rounds, Nietes took on super bantamweight Ralph Lulu.
Nietes showed he was already in excellent form as he peppered the much bigger Lulu for the remainder of his session. After twelve hard rounds, Nietes looked like he could go twelve more.
Nietes spars with Melindo and Gumban at the ALA Gym Tuesday.
Comebacking Rey 'Boom-Boom' Bautista (L) spars with blue-chip prospect Mark Magsayo.
Trainers Edito and Edmund Villamor told this writer that this was not the first time Nietes sparred the full twelve. Nietes has been training hard for this rematch and spent a month in the U.S where he got to spar with former pound for pound fighter Giovani Segura.
Melindo continued his sparring in the adjacent ring. His opponent, Tecuapetla, beat Gilberto Parra by unanimous decision in his last bout.
Rey ?BoomBoom? Bautista was also heating up for his comeback bid. He will be pitted against Sergio Villanueva of Mexico. Bautista sparred with unbeaten prospects Mark ?Machete? Bernaldez and Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo.
Nietes has reigned as a world champion over two divisions since September 2007. A win against Fuentes will put him closer to one of the most cherished records in Philippine boxing ? the seven year three month reign of Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde as world junior lightweight champion.
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