No stopping Nietes now

When you stage an international boxing card, there’s always the risk that one side of the equation won’t create balance.

Because you can research all you want on the Internet and check fighters on YouTube and you still don’t know what you’re really getting until the boxers from abroad actually step into the ring against Filipino fighters.

Take the case of Nonito Donaire Jr.’s second-round victory over Brazilian William Prado for the North American Boxing Federation title Saturday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The lively crowd that filled up about half of the boxing mecca expected an explosive assault by the Filipino Flash, given all his talent and his intentions for a glorious tune-up fight before taking on bigger foes in the future.

The explosion did come from Donaire as the meek and timid Prado threw almost nothing in six minutes. In the usual acquaintance party in the first round, Donaire was clearly studying the angles and hoping to feel anything Prado could offer in terms of power.

Donaire saw nothing and simply pounced on the Brazilian who had nothing to offer that night. Referee Bruce McTavish had seen enough of the one-sided affair and ended the fight in the second round.

You can’t blame Donaire for being unable to strut his stuff. Neither can you blame ALA Promotions that so bravely mounts these big fight events to give its fighters battles and keep the sport in the limelight. Prado simply had nada.

Longtime WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes had a longer time in the spotlight but also simply dominated Mexican Gilberto Parra, who couldn’t continue after being floored in the eighth. Nietes threw a 1-2 combination, missed slightly with the left jab but which created the angle for a thundering right straight that rocked Parra.

Parra ended up like a headless chicken after the knockdown as he ran away from Nietes and tried to clinch to avoid further damage.  His corner obviously yelled at him to stay away from Nietes who was going for the kill with about a minute left in the eighth.

“First round pa lang alam ko kaya kong patumbahin (As early as the first round, I knew I could knock him out),” explained Nietes.

Unless Nietes is no longer able to stay in the 108-lb category because of age and a desire to move up for a bigger payday, there seems to be no stopping him from extending his reign as the longest-reigning Filipino champion.

So, just like Forrest Gump said in the movie, you don’t know what you’ll get in a box of chocolates. You could end up devouring everything inside because all the pieces were great or just taste a little and decide the box didn’t offer a lot.

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