Nietes stops foe in one round

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines —WBO minimumweight titlist Donnie “Ahas” Nietes showed he is ready to chase for his dream of becoming a two-time world champion after scoring a splendid first-round knockout of Mexican Armando “Chiquita” Vasquez in the main event of “Pinoy Pride 5: Battle of Champions” last night here at the jampacked St. La Salle Coliseum.

Nietes did not let his fellow Negrense down as he unleashed his enormous improvement in power and Vasquez was the unlucky victim as he was tagged by a crushing right overhand by Nietes that separated the Mexican from his senses.

The impact of the punch was felt by the large throng of spectators that packed the La Salle Coliseum to the rafters as Vasquez fell prone on the canvass, forcing referee Bruce McTavish to wisely halt the carnage at the 2:26 mark of the very first round.

“Grabe ang hirap sa training at masarap manalo sa harap nilang (Negrenses) lahat,” said Nietes.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said with the impressive win, Nietes will now be waiting for the result of the April 30 WBO light flyweight title fight between Columbian Jesus Geles and Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales in Mexico.

“Nietes has shown he has been strong in 108 lbs division, “said Aldeguer. “We will just be waiting for the result of the April 30 fight and we will try to held it here in Bacolod or in Cebu.”

In the equally-exciting supporting bout, 19-year- old phenomenon Jason Pagara decked Tanzanian Deo Njiku two times in the first round before finally finishing off the African in 1:28 of the second round with a crushing right hook to retain his WBO AsPac Youth light welterweight title.

Fellow ALA Gym fighter Roli Gasca also dispatched Thai Ngaotawan Sithsaithong in the second round, while undefeated Lorenzo Villanueva defended his WBO Oriental featherweight belt against James Mokoginta via fifth round knockout. (FREEMAN)