Nietes stakes WBO crown in Mexico

MANILA, Philippines - WBO minimumweight champion Donnie (Ahas) Nietes hopes to become the first Filipino fighter ever to retain his title thrice in Mexico as he takes on hometowner Mario (Dragoncito) Rodriguez in a 12-round bout at the Auditorio Luis Estrada Medina in rural Guasave, Sinaloa, this morning (Manila time).

Both fighters had no difficulty making the 105-pound limit at the weigh-in yesterday in downtown Guasave, known for growing vegetables, particularly tomatoes. Nietes, 28, tipped the scales exactly at 105 while Rodriguez, 21, checked in at 103.2 pounds.

It is Nietes’ fourth title defense, third in Mexico, since claiming the vacant throne by outpointing Thailand’s unbeaten Pornsawan Kratingdaeng-Gym in Cebu in 2007. He has so far beaten challengers Eddy Castro of Nicaragua and Mexicans Erik Ramirez and Manuel Vargas.

Only two Filipinos reign as world titlists today – Nietes and WBO welterweight king Manny Pacquiao. Nonito Donaire, who has relinquished both his IBF flyweight and interim WBA superflyweight crowns, will now campaign as a bantamweight and is looking forward to challenging WBC 118-pound champion Fernando Montiel before the year ends.

Filipino fighters haven’t been too lucky in world title bouts lately with Ciso Morales, Balweg Bangoyan, Brian Viloria, Marvin Sonsona, Bernabe Concepcion, Rodel Mayol, Juanito Rubillar and Eric Barcelona falling by the wayside. Nietes is determined to buck the trend.

“The decision to fight in Mexico was Donnie’s,” said ALA Gym owner Tony Aldeguer. “We decided with my son Michael that it was best for Donnie to go for it because he would have the chance to be the first Filipino fighter in history to defend his title thrice in Mexico.”

ALA Gym head trainer Edito Villamor, who is in Guasave, said Nietes is confident of bringing the belt back home.

“Donnie is in excellent condition,” said Villamor who will work Nietes’ corner with brother Edmund and cutman Dr. Ed de la Vega. “He’s bigger and stronger. We’re not predicting what will happen but Donnie is prepared to go 12 rounds if necessary. We know Rodriguez is a dangerous opponent. He’s got the hometown advantage but Donnie is ready to do what it takes to win.”

Aldeguer described Nietes as the country’s most underrated fighter even as he holds a world title. “We feel Donnie doesn’t get the respect he deserves from fans but hopefully, if he beats Rodriguez, everything will change,” said Aldeguer. “There is no fighter who works harder than Donnie and he has gone a long way from being a janitor in our gym to what he is now. If he keeps his title, we would like Donnie to make his next defense in the Philippines, possibly in October. If the GMA Network is open to the idea, we could do a double championship card with Ana Julaton in the other main event.”

Raul Caiz Sr. will be the third man in the ring for Nietes’ defense against Rodriguez. The judges are Levi Martinez of New Mexico, Alejandro Lopez of Mexico City and Thomas Nardone of Florida. Last year, Nardone was a judge in Nietes’ win over Vargas by split decision in Nayarit and scored it for the Filipino, 118-110.

Nietes wound up his training with nearly a two-week grind at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles before proceeding to Guasave last Wednesday.

Nietes, who got his nickname Ahas for taking care of Aldeguer’s pet pythons, is coming off a 10th round stoppage of Erik Morales protégé Jesus Silvestre in a non-title fight last January. His record is 26-1-3, with 15 KOs.