Viloria, Nietes stake crowns in Bay card

MANILA, Philippines - A double championship featuring Filipino world titlists Brian Viloria and Donnie “Ahas” Nietes serves as the initial presentation of the Boxing at the Bay for the year 2010.

Viloria stakes his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight crown against Carlos Tamara of Colombia, while Nietes puts his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight belt on the line against Mexican Sammy “Guty” Gutierrez in a pair of 12-round bouts on Jan. 23 at the Astrodome.

Solar Sports presents the regular boxing series that kicked off last October featuring rising ring prospect Drian Francisco scoring a 10th round stoppage of former two-time world champion Roberto Vazquez of Panama for the World Boxing Association (WBA) super-flyweight international title.

The Boxing at the Bay is the biggest boxing program in South East Asia today in the tradition of boxing shows like Top Rank Promotions’ Latin Fury and Pinoy Power.

But the fights will also be fed live via satellite to major parts of Asia, North and South America and a few countries in Europe.

Viloria has long been a byword in world boxing ever since competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and later, knocking out Eric Ortiz in a single round to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) light-flyweight crown.

Only last year, he added to his legend a sensational 11th round knockout win of durable Mexican Ulises Solis to wrest the IBF 108-pound title before an ecstatic weekend crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

Four months after, the 29-year-old Fil-Am boxer made a successful defense of the IBF title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Jesus Iribe of Mexico in his first homecoming bout in Hawaii after five years.            

On the other hand, Nietes is defending his WBO 105-pound belt for the fourth time since capturing the title three years ago with a unanimous 12-round decision over Thai Pornsawan Porpramook in Cebu City.

Just a year ago, the 27-year old pride of the famed ALA boxing gym traveled all the way to Mexico to stake his crown not once, but twice, successfully accomplishing the feat in opposite fashion.

First, he decisioned Eric Ramirez in their 12-round fight held in February that saw the Mexican knocked down a total four times. Seven months later, Nietes carved out a split decision against Manuel Vargas.     

Since the boxing card was announced, tickets have been selling briskly.