Nietes annihilates Gutierrez in three to retain WBO title

QUEZON CITY , Philippines  â€”  Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes cemented his status as one of the Pinoy boxing greats after he scored a scintillating third round knockout of former Mexican world champion Sammy ‘Guty’ Gutierrez (33-10, 23KOs) to retain his WBO light flyweight crown in the main event of  ‘Pinoy Pride XXIII:Filipinos Kontra Latinos’ fightcard last Saturday night at the packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Aside from improving his record to 32-1 now laced with 18KOs, Nietes is also now flirting with history as he tries to surpass the late Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde’s record as the longest reigning Filipino world champion in seven years.

True to his promise of putting up an impressive show in front of his countrymen, Nietes jumped the gun of Gutierrez right from the onset. He knocked Gutierrez down twice with a flurry of punches in the opening session, but the Mexican weathered the onslaught and was saved by the bell.

Nietes continued his relentless offensive in the second round, punishing Gutierrez with some solid shots to the head, but the Mexican countered with timely hooks that forced Nietes to backpedal.

Nietes' brightest moment came in the third round when in the middle of heated exhange of blows, the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental landed a crushing left straight to the chin that sent Gutierrez flat on the mat. A visibly dazed Gutierrez tried to get   up, but referee Celestino Ruiz wisely waved off the bout with only two seconds left in that fateful round.

“I aimed for a quick and impressive win and I am happy that I did it,” said Nietes, who first became a world champion in 2007. After relinquishing his WBO minimumweight throne, he went on to claim the light flyweight belt two years ago.

“I can take his (Gutierrez) punch that is why I went aggressive on him and I connected that punch that I was setting up for him,” said Nietes.

Just like Manny Pacquiao following his masterful demolition of Brandon Rios a week ago in Macau, the ALA Gym stalwart also dedicated his win to all the victims of super storm Yolanda.

“This win is for my kababayans. Babangon tayo,” said Nietes, who is now setting his sights on a grudge rematch with his Mexican rival Moises Fuentes either in Singapore or Macau.

“Nietes is a guy who understands the game so much,” said ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael Aldeguer. “We are now looking on a rematch between him and Fuentes either in Singapore or Macau in April next year,” said Aldeguer.

In the other headliner of the double world championship card bankrolled by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, Merlito ‘Tiger’ Sabillo (23-0-1, 12KOs) barely kept his WBO minimumweight title after fighting to a controversial split draw with Nicaraguan superstar Carlos Buitrago (27-0-1, 16KOs).

In an all-out war between two unbeaten boxers, Sabillo fought toe-to-toe with Buitrago, who gave the ALA mainstay a hard time with his excellent counter-punching skills.

The bout lasted the full 12-round distance as Buitrago’s strategy was neutralized by Sabillo’s fast-phase fighting style and aggressiveness.

Judge Levi Martinez scored the bout 115-113 for Buitrago, while Joerge Milke had Sabillo winning 115-113. Japan's Takeshi Shimakawa saw it even, 114-114, thus the split draw.

"I had a hard time connecting my punches because of his defense and he is a good counter-puncher. I am not contented with the result of the fight, but I felt I have done my best to win," said the 29-year-old Sabillo.

“As I expected it was a tough fight. There is a possibility of a rematch but it will still depend on the negotiations,” said Aldeguer. “There is a positive thing for this. At least Sabillo has something to learn from.”

In another attraction, one-time world title challenger Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo (30-1, 12KOs) powered his way to a convincing 12-round unanimous decision victory against Mexican Jose Alfredo ‘Torito’ Rodriguez to snatch the WBO International flyweight title. (FREEMAN)