Donnie Nietes set to surpass Flash Elorde’s record

Donnie Nietes kept his WBO junior flyweight belt on Saturday night. Dong Secuya/Philboxing

MANILA, Philippines — Donnie Nietes is well on his way to boxing history.

After stopping Mexican challenger Carlo Velarde to retain his WBO junior flyweight title on Saturday night at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu, Nietes put himself in the position to eclipse the record held by another Filipino champion in the late great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.

Elorde, a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, held the junior lightweight crown for seven years and three months during the 1960s. The 32-year-old Nietes will surpass that feat by January next year.

Nietes, who improved to 34-1-4 with 20 knockouts, has now successfully defended his light flyweight title for the fifth straight time and he hasn’t lost since dropping a split decision defeat at the hands of Indonesian Angky Angkota in 2004.

He won the vacant WBO strawweight belt in 2007 that started his reign as world champion.

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