'Ahas' out to gain recognition

MANILA, Philippines - Of the Philippines’ four reigning world boxing champions, Donnie Nietes is the least known. Manny Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Rodel Mayol are household names but Nietes, who holds the WBO minimumweight title, is still struggling to gain popularity even among Filipino fans.

But Nietes, 27, isn’t bothered. He knows his time will eventually come and the breakthrough could be his four championship defense against Mexico’s Ivan (Pollito) Meneses in a 12-round bout on Solar Sports’ “Boxing at the Bay” series on Jan. 23 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Nietes will co-headline the card with Viloria who stakes his IBF lightflyweight crown against Colombia’s Carlos Tamara in the other main event.

Nietes is expected to enter the ring with his pet python draped on his shoulders. It’s not meant to scare his opponents. Nietes just wants to establish his reputation as a snake lover with a killer sting.

“Donnie got his nickname ‘ahas’ when he was a utility boy at the ALA Gym,” said stable owner Tony Aldeguer. “One of his daily chores was to clean the snake pit with five big pythons and he was the only man with the guts to do it. He was bitten several times. But once he befriended the snakes, he was never bitten again. One day, a snake laid 11 eggs but only one survived. Donnie took care of that snake and he still does to this day. That’s how he got his nickname.”

One of three children, Nietes grew up in the sugarfields of Murcia, Negros Occidenal. His uncle Dan Nietes was once the Philippine flyweight champion and introduced him to the sport when he was 12. Nietes was a favorite in town fiestas and inter-barangay competitions.

After finishing high school, Nietes was brought to the ALA Gym by his uncle. He wasn’t impressive at first and wound up working as a utility boy in the sweathouse, escaping on weekends to fight in the “Boxing at the Park” amateur series.

Before long, Nietes proved his mettle by beating crack ALA simonpures Benedict Suico, A. J. Banal and Robert Allanic. He was invited to join the ALA amateur team and became a multi-awarded champion losing only twice in his career to Banal and Jake Lear.

In 2003, Nietes turned pro. And four years later, he claimed the vacant WBO 105-pound title by outpointing previously unbeaten Pornsawan Porpramook of Thailand. Nietes has since turned back three challengers Eddy Castro of Nicaragua and Mexicans Erik Ramirez and Manuel Vargas. Nietes travelled all the way to Mexico to repulse Ramirez and Vargas, becoming the only Filipino world titlist ever to successfully defend his belt twice in the country.

“Despite holding the title the last two years with three defenses, Donnie remains unheralded in his own country,” said Aldeguer. “He is aware of this and it is for this reason that he wants to unify the minimumweight division before moving up in weight and challenging for the 108-pound title in order to prove that he’s the best among his peers.”

Although Nietes is careful not to look beyond Meneses, Aldeguer confirmed that the fighter hopes to battle one or more of the other minimumweight titleholders this year. The three other champions are all undefeated----WBC’s Oleydong Sithsamerchai of Thailand (33-0, with 12 KOs), WBA’s Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua (24-0, with 20 KOs) and the IBF’s Raul Garcia of Mexico (27-0-1, with 16 KOs).

Oleydong appears to be the logical choice because Thailand isn’t far away. Besides, Oleydong has victimized a slew of Filipinos, including Federico Catubay, Nino Suelo, Rey Orais, Isidro Lorona, Rollen del Castillo, Arman de la Cruz and Philip Parcon, and Nietes said he’ll pay for it.

“Among all my boxers, Donnie is the most matured and good-natured,” said Aldeguer. “I feel he will reign long and ultimately, fulfil his dream to unify the 105-pound class.”

Aldeguer said Nietes, whose only pro loss was a disputed split hometown decision to Angky Angkota in Jakarta in 2004, has a head on his shoulders and a knack for taking care of his money.

“Donnie knows how to handle his earnings, prides himself in owning two lots in his hometown and is in the process of building his dream house on a lot I gave him as a reward for winning the world title,” said Aldeguer. “He drives his own car and maintains a bank account that grew considerably from his purses in his two title defenses in Mexico.”

Nietes has a 25-1-3 record, with 14 KOs, and is unbeaten in his last 16 outings. Meneses won his first eight bouts and is ranked No. 8 by the WBC and No. 11 by the WBA and WBO. His record is 14-5-1, with eight KOs.

Aldeguer brushed aside Nietes’ loss to Angkota as an aberration. “After only 10 pro fights, Donnie went to Jakarta and scored a seventh round technical knockout over Marti Poli then stopped Abrin Mata in the fifth,” said Aldeguer. “With no minimumweight and lightflyweight Indonesian fighters willing to take on Donnie, he was matched against Angkota in an overweight bout and lost a hometown split decision. That was the first and only loss in Donnie’s career. He hasn’t lost since or five years ago.”