Nietes to defend WBO title against tough Mexican foe

MANILA, Philippines - Two-division world champion Donnie Nietes (29-1-3, 16KOs) will defend his WBO light flyweight title against the streaking Mexican Felipe Salguero (16-2-1, 11KOs) in the main event of the “Pinoy Pride XIV” on June 2 at the Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Manila.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said they don’t know much about Salguero except that he’s WBO ranked No.7 and is on a 14-fight winning run.

Salguero lost in his first two bouts as a pro – both by majority decision – but the Toluca, Mexico fighter has staged a spectacular comeback by racking up 14 straight victories that gave him a shot at the world title.

In his previous match, Salguero knocked out Panamanian champion Carlos “Shangai” Melo in the fifth round last Jan. 28 at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

The 29-year-old Nietes, on the other hand, will make the first defense of the WBO belt he seized with a lopsided unanimous decision over Mexico’s Ramon Garcia Hirales on Oct. 8 last year at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Coliseum in Bacolod City.

That made Nietes only the sixth Filipino boxer to win at least two world crowns in different weight divisions after Dodie Boy Peñalosa, Luisito Espinosa, Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire and Brian Viloria.

The pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental reigned as the WBO minimumweight king after he mauled Thai Pornsawan Porpramook on Sept. 30, 2007 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. He kept his belt for nearly four years before voluntarily abdicating his throne to move up in weight.

Meanwhile, Aldeguer bared that WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion Milan “El Metodico” Melindo (26-0, 10 KOs) and undefeated super bantamweight prospect Genesis “Azukal” Servania (17-0, 5 KOs) will see action in the undercard of the 14th installment of the highly successful boxing series bankrolled by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.