NIETES TAKING NO CHANCES IN HIS TITLE DEFENSE AS HE CHASES RECORD OF 'FLASH' ELORDE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 16 Sep 2014
It may be a voluntary title defense but World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes is taking no chances as he chases the record of the late, great Gabriel "Flash" Elorde who reigned as world junior lightweight champion for seven years and three months.
Should Nietes retain his title in a voluntary defense at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu on November 15 in "Pinoy Pride XXVIII", he would have reigned as a world champion in the minimum weight and light flyweight divisions for seven years, one month and fifteen days.
While ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer has informed Zanfer Promotions Fernando Beltran that Nietes is ready to face either No. 10 ranked Carlos Velarde or No. 11 ranked Saul "Baby" Juarez from among a list of five opponents suggested by Zanfer,
Nietes has started training and is waiting for the arrival of American strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson who did a terrific job preparing Nietes for his rematch with mandatory challenger Moises Fuentes.
Nietes who was given a hard time in the first encounter with Fuentes which ended in a majority draw on March 2, 2013 demolished the touted Mexican in their rematch on last May 10 which Nietes dropped him three times in the 9th round en route to a rousing knockout victory at the Mall of Asia Arena.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports that Curson is scheduled to arrive in Cebu on September 21.
Aldeguer said they scrapped the original plan to have Nietes train in the US and decided that since the title defense will take place in Cebu they would bring Curson over to work with Nietes at the ALA Gym in Cebu.
The two possible opponents picked by Aldeguer both have solid records and are young fighters. 23 year old Velarde who has a record of 26-3-1 with 14 knockouts and Juarez who is also 23 is the reigning IBF Latino minimum weight champion with a record of 20-3 with 11 knockouts.
Velarde won the vacant IBF Latino minimum weight title with a 10 round split decision over tough Jose Argumedo last May 3. He previously fought for the WBA minimum weight world title and lost by a 5th round TKO to Japan's Ryo Miyazaki.
Ringside reports said that after four rounds Velarde was fighting on even terms with the Japanese titlist. However, in the final minute of the fifth round, he walked into a vicious left hook from Miyazaki that saw ?Chapito? on his way out via TKO. Since then, Velarde has won two comeback fights.
Juarez won his last fight on May 31 this year beating Erick Lopez in an eight round bout after earlier scoring a unanimous eight round decision over veteran Luis Ceja last February 8.
Top photo: Donnie Nietes and his team celebrate after the victory against Fuentes last May.
Juarez vs Lopez.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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