Team Fuentes calls for rematch

CEBU, Philippines - The handlers of Mexican fighter Moises Fuentes has called for an immediate rematch after the classic ring war between Fuentes and ALA Boxing Gym star Donnie "Ahas" Nietes ended in a majority draw in the Pinoy Pride XVIII: World Champion vs. World Champion" fight card at the full-packed Pacific grand ballroom of the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino last Saturday night.

Joseph Danrex Tapdasan of the Philippines penned it 115-113 for Nietes, but American judges Adelaide Byrd and Pat Russell both had it even at 114-114.

As a result of the controversial draw, Nietes retained his WBO light flyweight title, while Fuentes stayed as the WBO minumweight champion.

The decision, however, did not sit well for Team Fuentes, with Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera batting for a return bout even if the fight would take place again here in Cebu.

"I will make an immediate request with the WBO President Paco Valcarcel about this fight, that we want an immediate rematch. We are willing to come back here for the rematch, but without a Filipino judge," said Barrera, the manager of Fuentes, in a report by Michael Angel Lopez of philboxing.com.

So serious about the rematch that Barrera wanted to bring his other prized ward to challenge the undefeated WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight champion Genesis "Azukal" Servania in what could be a blockbuster double championship card.

“I will bring my boxer Moises 'Chucky' Flores (18-0, 13KOs) to challenge Genesis Servania for the vacant interim WBO super bantamweight championship,” added Barrera.

In the same internet report, Fuentes admitted he got hurt in the first round by a devastating punch under his right eye, but he had no more problems after that. The Mexican toughie admitted that Nietes has power, but he was strong enough to take all his punches.

“I know I had Nietes hurt many times, but the true warrior that Nietes is, he fought and fought. I have a lot of respect for Nietes, and let’s fight again,” said Fuentes.

Nietes bucked severe cuts on both his eyebrows in the sixth – one caused by a head-butt and the other inflicted by Fuentes’ power punches – and used his counter-punching skills to neutralize the Mexican challenger’s attack and gain the draw that caught majority of the crowd, including himself, by surprise.

Regarding Barrera's call for a rematch, ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer said "let's just see if we can put eveything together again."

Without doubt, the epic battle between Nietes and Fuentes has further fanned the scatching Philippines-Mexico boxing rivalry, a rivarly that Barrera said will stay for a long, long time. (FREEMAN)