ALL STAR CAST FOR PINOY PRIDE 28
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 03 Oct 2014
CEBU CITY - WBO light flyweight world champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes leads a star studded line-up when Pinoy Pride returns to Cebu this November 15 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Nietes, who is also recognized as the linear world champion by Ring magazine, is set to surpass the seven year three month reign of Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde should he hurdle his next title defense.
Elorde reigned in one division as the undisputed world junior lightweight champion from 1960-67 while Nietes (33W-1L-4D,19KO?s) has been champion in two weight categories since September 30, 2007 when he won the WBO minimumweight title here in Cebu. The 32 year old Nietes will also have to wait till the clock ticks to January 2015 to make his feat official.
Carlos Velarde (26-3-1,14KO?s) of Mexico, who is ranked number five by the WBO,is the most likely opponent for Nietes. ALA Promotions Pres and CEO Michael Aldeguer emphasized that they are ironing out the final list for the match-ups of this blockbuster card but today?s press conference formally announced the inclusion of WBO Intercontinental flyweight titlist Milan ?El Metodico? Melindo (31-1,12KO?s), former WBO world minimumweight champ Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo (23-1-1,12KO?s), IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight titlist ?Prince? Albert Pagara (21-0,15KO?s), former world title contender AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (31-2-1,22KO?s) and top prospect Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo (8-0,6KO?s).
Melindo will be going down in weight to 108lbs. He feels this will not present a problem and he also said that he felt bloated at 112. This may coincide with Nietes? plans to move up to 112 and target the likes of Roman Gonzales and Juan Francisco Estrada.
Melindo is also ranked number 5 at light flyweight by the IBF and a showdown against number 8 ranked Saul Juarez (20-3,11KO?s) of Mexico is in the works.
Sabillo is raring to return to action after losing his world title early this year. He was very candid about his feelings after his first career loss; anger, confusion and depression took over before he realized that he needed to go back to the gym and take back the name that he lost.
Nietes continues to work hard in the gym under conditioning coach Nick Curson. He has downplayed any suggestions of pressure as he nears one of the most hallowed records in Philippine sports. Nietes has yet to receive his Ring magazine belt. He was bestowed the honor of being the 108 lb division world champion by the ?Bible of Boxing? when he stopped Mexican Moises Fuentes in nine rounds in their rematch last May at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The cast for Pinoy Pride XVIII: ?HISTORY IN THE MAKING? makes this card a must see for Pinoy fight fans. This will be ALA Promotions? final big fight offering for 2014.
TOP PHOTO ? The cast of Pinoy Pride 28 with ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer during the press con at the Rajah Hotel in Cebu City, below ? ALA Gym trainers Edmund and Edito Villamor flank prospect Mark Magsayo.
Below LEFT TO RIGHT ? Mark Magsayo, Milan Melindo, WBO/Ring magazine champ Donnie Nietes, Albert Pagara and AJ Banal
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