FLAMBOYANT former world champion Raul Garcia arrived in Bacolod City on Monday night, ready to challenge Donnie Nietes’ seven-year supremacy in the light flyweight division.
Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion, will stake his World Boxing Organization crown against Garcia on May 28 at University of St. La Salle Coliseum.
The 12-rounder headlines Pinoy Pride 36: A Legend in the Making fight card jointly undertaken by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.
Garcia, the former International Boxing Federation minimum weight titlist who boasts a 38-win (23 knockouts), 3-loss, 1-draw slate, is raring to avenge the losses suffered by 13 of his countrymen—including twin brother Ramon— at the hands of Nietes (37-1-4, 21 KOs).
The 34-year-old Nietes, on the other hand, wants to put up a sterling performance before his provincemates, having been born in the town of Murcia.
Garcia, 33, was accompanied by countryman Maximino Flores (19-2, 13 KOs), who will fight two-time world title contender Milan Melindo (33-2, 12 KOs) in the 113-pound undercard.
Bago City’s Arthur Villanueva (28-1, 14 KOs) will put his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight crown at stake against another Mexican, Juan Jimenez (22-9, 15 KOs), in the chief support.
Jimenez is expected to plane in today, well in time for Thursday’s final press conference for the fight card.
Nietes said he has prepared hard for his bout against Garcia, whose only losses came against former world champions Pedro Guevarra and Moises Fuentes of Mexico and Nkosinathi Joyi of South Africa.
Trainer Edmund Villamor said he focused on enhancing Nietes’ speed, footwork and timing for nearly two months.