MANILA, Philippines - Tiniyak ni WBO president Paco Valcarcel ng Puerto Rico kay Mexican challenger Moises Fuentes na mag-uupo siya ng mga neutral judges para sa kanilang laban ni WBO light flyweight titlist Donjie ‘Ahas’ Nietes at maiwasan ang hometown decision.
Noong 2007, itinaya ni WBO superflyweight champion Fernando Montiel ng Mexico ang kanyang titulo sa Cebu laban kay challenger Z Gorres at nakakuha ng split decision.
“It will be a hard fight as they are both world champions and it could end in a knockout or a close decision,†ani Michael Aldeguer, ang ma-nager ni Nietes.
“This fight means a lot to Donnie. He will be fighting a current world champion who knocked out the legendary Ivan Calderon in his last fight. This is the fight that will define Donnie’s career in going after the bigger names if he gets through Fuentes. I believe that this could be his toughest fight ever,†dagdag pa ng promoter.
Hindi pa natatalo si Nie-tes sa kanyang huling 22 laban sapul noong 2004.
Itataya ng 30-anyos na si Nietes ang kanyang suot na WBO light flyweight title laban sa 27-anyos na si Fuentes, ang kasalukuyang WBO minimumweight king, sa Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City sa Marso 2.
Dala ni Nietes ang 31-1-3 (17 knockouts) card kumpara sa 16-1-0 (8 KO) ni Fuentes.
Hindi pa natatalo si Nie-tes sa kanyang mga nakaharap na pitong Mexicans bago harapin si Fuentes.
Nauna itong itinakda sa Pebrero 2 bago nailipat ng petsa.
Sinabi ni Aldeguer na nangako si Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, ang kapatid na si Jorge na manager ni Fuentes, na uupo sa ringside kung mangyayari ang naturang laban kay Nietes sa Pebrero 2.
“We understand Marco Antonio is checking his schedule and if there’s no conflict, he’ll definitely be in Cebu for the fight,†sabi ni Aldeguer.