PINOY PRIDE 25: NIETES AND FUENTES TRADE BARBS
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 May 2014
MANILA - Familiarity breeds contempt.
WBO light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes and challenger Moises Fuentes of Mexico had their last round of saber-rattling two days before their much awaited rematch. The protagonists shared their thoughts to the members of the sports media attending the final press conference held Thursday noon at the Bayview Park Hotel.
?He was running that?s why it was a draw,? Fuentes did not hide his disdain when asked if he felt that he let victory slip away when they met in Cebu last March 2, 2013. The verdict was a majority draw after twelve hard fought rounds.
?That is not how a champion behaves,? Fuentes emphatically stated. ?He fought like a child.?
The scorecards of the three judges had Nietes winning in the last two rounds to earn the draw.
?If I got a draw by running, then I will definitely beat him this time if I don?t run,? Nietes countered.
?I underestimated my opponent the first time,? Fuentes elaborated, ?I did not train hard enough. I have the hunger to become champion,? The 28 year old Fuentes? dedication during training was also emphasized by trainer Armando Rivera, manager Jorge Rivera and boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera.
The 31 year old Nietes (32-1-4, 18 KOs) initially stated that he is prepared to go twelve rounds but will go for a knockout if the opportunity presents itself. But further goading from the sportswriters made the champion change his prediction.
?This fight will end in a knockout. I will go for a knockout,? Nietes stated. ?I will not let him take the title. We will have to kill each other.?
Fuentes (19-1-1, 10 KOs) is a former WBO champion at minimumweight and also holds the interim light flyweight title.
Nietes and Fuentes (C) pose with WBO Vice-President Leon Panoncillo Jr (L), Asia Brewery executive Michael Ngo (2nd from left) and ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer (R).
L-R: Milan Melindo, Rey 'Boom-Boom' Bautista, Donnie Nietes, Moises Fuentes, Martin Tecuapetla and Sergio Villanueva.
Marco Antonio Barrera (L) and Moises Fuentes.
Photos by Dong Secuya.
There will be two more Philippines vs Mexico matches, WBO International flyweight titlist Milan ?Metodico? Melindo (30-1,12KO's) will square off with Martin ?Diablo? Tecuapetla (18-5-2,8KO's). ?Preparing for this fight is another step to fight again for a world championship,? Melindo asserted that ?My boxing skill is at the same level as Floyd Mayweather. Very few people have noticed this. I will win all the belts, someday you will see.?
The returning Rey ?BoomBoom? Bautista (30-3,25KO's) will face Sergio ?El Cuate? Villanueva (26-3,13KO's), a former WBC Youth world featherweight titlist.
?I am ready to entertain the fans,? Bautista said.
?I will win, I am ready,? Villanueva answered, ?Bautista is strong but he has defects.?
There is a lot riding on Nietes this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Only Nietes and Manny Pacquiao are the two remaining Filipino world champions.
Nietes? stablemate, Merlito Sabillo lost his WBO minimumweight crown in Mexico and Johnriel Casimero lost his IBF jr.flyweight title at the scales last week in Cebu. There is another Filipino with a world title at 108 lbs, Rey Loreto, who has the IBO belt but his name still escapes most Pinoy sports fans.
?No pressure,? Nietes emphasized.
Promoter Michael Aldeguer said that ALA Promotions has survived the losses of crowd drawers like AJ Banal and Bautista. ?We will just roll with the punches,? Aldeguer said. ?This is a long term program to promote Philippine boxing. We do not depend on just one event.?
The weigh-in will be held Friday also at the MOA in Pasay City. Also present at the press conference were WBO Asia-Pacific chief Leon Panoncillo, GAB Chairman Ramon Guanzon, the referee for this world title bout Robert Byrd of the U.S and judge Robert Hoyle.
Byrd was also the referee when Nietes dethroned Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales last October 8, 2011 in Bacolod City for the WBO 108 lb division title.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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