The door to global acclaim is now open for Donnie “Ahas” Nietes.
Whether the longest reigning Filipino world champion will barge into it or be denied entry will depend upon his showing against Mexican challenger Juan “Pinky” Alejo in their showdown for the World Boxing Organization light flyweight crown Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Nietes is strutting his stuff in the United States, boxing’s mainstream, for the first time and Nietes ought to impress in the headliner of Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs the World to line himself for bigger and juicier fights abroad.
The 33-year-old Nietes, unbeaten in 28 fights since 2004 en route to a 36-4 card with 21 knockouts, hopes to add Alejo, who is on a 21-win run, 13 by KO, after dropping his first three bouts, to his Mexican victims.
Thus far, the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental, has beaten 12 Mexicans (Moises Fuentes twice), three of them right at their homeland, in defense of the 108-pound title he wrested from Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales in 2011 in Bacolod City.
Installed the favorite in the 12-round bout to be aired by ABS-CBN Sports Sunday, Nietes hopes to reap the benefits of over 100 rounds of sparring, including six with two-time Fil-Am world champion Brian Viloria at the famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, to extend his eight-year reign, dating back to 2007 when he won the vacant WBO minimum weight title in Cebu City.
As proof of their preparedness, the protagonists both came in under the weight limit in Friday’s official weigh-in, Nietes checking in at 107.9 lb and Alejo 107.4.
Three other Filipino rising stars—brothers Jason and “Prince” Albert Pagara and Mark Magsayo—are seeing action in Pinoy Pride 33, ALA International Promotions’ first foray in the United States, just like its homegrown talents.
The younger Albert (24-0, 17 KOs) will dangle his International Boxing Federation inter-continental super bantamweight against Nicaraguan knockout artist William Gonzalez (25-5, 23 KOs). Albert tipped the scales at 121.8 lb, slightly heavier than Gonzalez (120.6).
Jason (36-2, 22 KOs) will tangle with Santos Benavides (25-7-2, 19 KOs) at light welterweight. They both weighed 143 lb.
Generating a lot of attention is Magsayo’s defense of the IBF Youth featherweight crown against the cocky Suarez.
During the final press-conference Friday, Suarez boasted that their fight could be over in just two rounds.
The 20-year-old Magsayo did not specify a round, but promised a knockout.