Nietes stakes WBO crown vs ‘cocky’ Mexican tonight

CEBU CITY—Donnie “Ahas” Nietes seldom seethes over an opponent’s bluster before a fight.

Yesterday was one of those rare times as the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion showed animosity toward Mexican challenger Francisco Rodriguez.

“He’s too cocky,” the mild-mannered Nietes told Manila-based scribes in Filipino. “He’s even cockier than (Moises) Fuentes and (Gilberto) Parra. But I know he’s just trying to psyche himself up. I’ll show him tomorrow (Saturday).”

The 33-year-old Nietes and Rodriguez both made the 108-pound limit during the official weigh-in at SM Activity Center, on the eve of their light flyweight title fight for Nietes’s WBO title which he has held since 2011.

Rodriguez earned Nietes’ ire for boasting that he’ll give the Filipino the fight of his life and ultimately knock him out.

Eleven of Rodriguez’s compatriots have tried. Each one has failed.

While Nietes—unbeaten since 2004 and with a 35-win, 1-loss, 4-draw record with 21 knockouts—was right on the dot on his first trip to the scales, Rodriguez (17-2-1, 11 KOs) was a pound over the limit on his initial attempt. He needed to strip bare to make the headliner official in Pinoy Pride 31: Clash of Champions at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Nietes’ suspicion that the Mexican isn’t in top shape, despite claims to the contrary by his camp, grew when Rodriguez, the former WBO and IBF minimumweight titlist, weighed 2 pounds over the limit on Thursday.

On fight night, Nietes said he would bulk up to between 117 and 118 lb.

After the weigh-in, Rodriguez took a bite from a cake as his handlers celebrated his 22nd birthday  yesterday.

The chief support of the fight card jointly undertaken by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, pits rising star Mark “Magnifico” Mansayo (10-0, 8 KOs) against Mexican Rafael Reyes (16-4, 12 KOs), for the IBF Youth featherweight championship. Magsayo tipped the scales at 126 lb, two heavier than Reyes.

Later, WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel rewarded Nietes with a diamond-encrusted ring in recognition of his ring exploits. Nietes was only the second Filipino to be given the ring after eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

Other marquee fighters with the WBO ring include Oscar De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Also in attendance were ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and boxing patron Tony Aldeguer.

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