Nietes primed and ready for Fuentes in battle of world champs

CEBU, Philippines - Before Donnie “Ahas” Nietes takes on Mexico's Moises Fuentes in a historic battle of world champions, Genesis “Azukal” Servania and Jimrex “The Executioner” Jaca will provide fans some fireworks in the ring first as they square off against tough Asian rivals on the undercard of the hotly-anticipated “Pinoy Pride XVIII:World Champion vs. World Champion” bankrolled by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports next month.           

Servania (19-0, 6KOs), the reigning WBO Asia-Pacific and WBC Silver super bantamweight titlist, will stake his unbeaten record against Indonesian ‘Time Bomb’ Angky Angkota (26-8, 14KOs), while the resurgent Jaca (30-6-3, 20KOs) aims to stretch his hot streak to nine as he slugs it out with Rachamongkol Sor Pleonchit (13-4, 5KOs) of Thailand's world-renowned Kokiet Gym.

Angkota is best known as the only fighter to beat Nietes, now a two-division world champion who will put his WBO light flyweight throne on the line against Fuentes in the main event of the 18th installment of the Pinoy Pride series scheduled on March 2 at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Angkota, who currently held the IBF Pan-Pacific and WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight crowns, also boasts of a vast experience in the squared arena having fought twice - albeit for a losing cause - against Mexican legend Jorge “Travieso” Arce and once against another Mexican star Fernando Montiel.

But Servania is unfazed by the impressive credential of his foe.

“I'm confident of beating him (Angkota). He's not that a good fighter and besides, I trained hard for this fight,” said Servania, who is touted as the next big thing in Philippine boxing.

Jaca, for his part, is riding high on an eight-fight win streak but he will surely have his hands full against Rachamongkol, a decorated Muay Thai warrior who once reigned as the WBC International featherweight champion.

The fistic show, however, will be centered on Nietes (31-1-3, 17KOs) as he defends his throne against Fuentes (16-1, 8KOs), the WBO minimumweight crown-holder who bravely moved up from the 105-pound division to the 108-pound class just to challenge the soft-spoken Bacoleño fighter.

“This is one of the biggest Pinoy Pride series that we've put in place together,” said ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer in a press conference yesterday at St. Mark Hotel along Queens Road in Redemptorist Plaza, Brgy. Camputhaw, this city. “This is the first time that a world champion will be coming over to fight for a world title on Philippine soil. I hope the Cebuanos will come and support this event.”

“It's one of the most difficult negotiations we ever had. Bringing a world champion here is no joke, but we're committed to our fans to bring in world-class fights here. This is a historic fight, a world champion fighting against a world champion and Cebu deserves to host it as it (Pinoy Pride) all started here,” added Aldeguer.

The rest of the card features Mark Bernaldez of Butuan City vs. Rolando Omela of Davao City; Ralph Lulu of Sultan Kudarat vs. Alvin Makiling of Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Juren Labordo of Bacolod City vs. Marlou Talili of Guindulman, Bohol; Rey Morales of Himamaylan City vs. Abel Gayhon of Malaybalay; and Kazuma Ejiri of Kobe, Japan vs. Andrew Palas of Cebu City.

Tickets are priced at P250 for balcony, P350 for ballroom, P500 for golden seats, P1,250 for VIP 4th row, P1,500 for VIP 3rd row, P2,000 for VIP 2nd row, P3,000 for VIP first row, and P4,000 for Platinum VIP.

For reservations and other inquiries, one may contact 505-9513, 0923-1072890, 0915-8690905, 0927-5612059 or visit www.alaboxing.com. (FREEMAN)