Nietes nears peak form for WBO title defense

CEBU, Philippines - Two-division world champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes (29-1, 16KOs) is nearly in top shape as he enters the final phase of his rigid training regimen preparatory for his WBO light flyweight title defense against Mexico's Felipe Salguero (16-2, 11KOs) headlining the “Pinoy Pride 14: Night of Champions” on June 2 at the Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Manila.ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor said Nietes is now close to his peak form after seven weeks of intense training and conditioning at Cebu's fabled ALA Boxing Gym.

“We have a great training camp. Donnie is now 80 percent ready and during the day of the fight, he will be more than a hundred percent ready for Salguero,” said Villamor, a former two-time world title challenger. “He has also sparred more than a hundred rounds and he is getting better and better every sparring session.”

Villamor said the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental is putting extra work in his training because they perceive Salguero as a threat owing to the Mexican’s reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the light flyweight division.

“Salguero is a very dangerous opponent because he has the skills. He is one hungry Mexican who will give everything to get Donnie’s belt,” added Villamor.

Nietes, who turned 30 years old last May 13, will make the first defense of the WBO belt he seized with a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision victory over tough Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales on October 8 last year at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Coliseum in Bacolod City.

Even in the slightest of way, Nietes couldn't underestimate Salguero, who won his last two fights via stoppage including a fifth round TKO of Panamian champion Carlos Melo last January 28 at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Aside from Nietes, two other undefeated ALA ring stars in Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo (26-0, 10KOs) and Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania (17-0, 5KOs) will show their stuff in the highly-anticipated card presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.

Melindo will take on former world champion Jesus 'El Cuchilla' Geles (13-2, 5KOs) of Colombia for the vacant WBO International flyweight title, while Servania will face an acid test against three-time world title challenger Genaro 'Poblanito" Garcia (38-8, 22KOs) for the vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight championship. (THE FREEMAN)