Nietes wrests WBO title, dethrones light fly king Garcia for second world belt
BACOLOD CITY—Donnie “Ahas” Nietes summoned the last drop of his waning strength to snare the World Boxing Organization light flyweight crown from Ramon Hirales Garcia by unanimous decision Saturday night before a capacity crowd at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum here.
The Mexican’s body blows and a solid left to the jaw forced Nietes to resort to clinching and backpedaling to survive Garcia’s wild but persistent onslaught from the seventh round.
After a clash of heads opened a cut on Nietes’ left eyebrow in the 11th round, the Filipino rallied with clean shots before engaging the weary but game Garcia in a brawl in the final round.
Despite the scrambling finish, Nietes convincingly won in the cards of the three judges. Americans Lisa Giampa had it at 118-110, Carlos Ortiz, 117-111, and Filipino lawyer Danrex Tapdasan, 115-113.
Nietes, who dominated the first five rounds with accurate sniping, improved his record to 29 wins, 16 by knockouts, one loss and three draws, and became a two-division champion in this capital city’s first-ever world title bout.
The native of nearby Murcia town, held the WBO minimumweight title from 2007 up to 2010 before relinquishing it to campaign in the heavier division.
Garcia, whose record fell to 16 wins, three losses and one draw, later said he was robbed of victory and demanded a rematch.
His trainer, Leo Camacho, said the result of the main event of Pinoy Pride IX, an undertaking of ALA Promotions in cooperation with ABS-CBN Sports, was “a complete steal.”
“Ramon was always looking for a knockout but all he (Nietes) did was run and clinch,” Camacho told Manila-based sportswriters through an interpreter. “Being the challenger, there’s no way he could have won. Of course, we want a rematch. We don’t mind if it’s held again in the Philippines as long as there are good judges and a good referee.”
In the chief support, AJ “Bazooka” Banal, another spearhead of the ALA boxing stable, posted a more convincing unanimous decision win in retaining his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight championship against another Mexican, Mario Briones.
Teen sensation Prince Albert Pagara made it a triple celebration for the ALA stable when he knocked down Shaabani Madilu of Kenya three times to handily win their eight-round, 116-pound battle.
In the night’s most applauded bout, local fighter Merlito Sabilo won by unanimous decision over Tejares Singwancha to clinch the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation minimumweight championship.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia handed the championship trophy to Nietes.
Also in attendance were Games and Amusement Board chair Ramon Guanzon, boxing chief Dr. Nasser Cruz, WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo Jr., and Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano.
