BACOLOD CITY—Donnie “Ahas” Nietes wasn’t kidding, after all.
He indeed appeared younger, fresher and better than his 34 years in a systematic demolition of Raul Garcia late Saturday in the headliner of Pinoy Pride 36 at University of St. La Salle Coliseum here.
With Nietes connecting at will with powerful blows, the frustrated and exhausted challenger quit after the fifth round of their World Boxing Organization light flyweight title fight.
“I feel as if I’m getting younger,” Nietes told sportswriters after the official weigh-in Friday afternoon.
True enough, Nietes fought with spring in his legs and bombs in his fists in front of his fellow Negrenses, winning every round and dropping Garcia twice in the third.
The first came by way of a snappy left straight to the head followed by a hardy left to the body. Garcia was up in no time only to be sent down anew with a right to the body by the pride of nearby Murcia town.
“I knew I had him from the first round,” said Nietes in Filipino. “I found no need to hurry up as his body is already hurting.”
According to Nietes, who made his ninth successful title defense, the fight turned out to be just what he and trainer Edmund Villamor prepared for, finding his range and penetrating the Mexican’s defenses.
Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion at eight years, raised his record to 38-1-4 with 21 knockouts while pulling down Garcia, the former International Boxing Federation and WBO minimum weight titlist, to 36-4-1, 22 KOs.
Finding Nietes an elusive target and with his strength waning, Garcia did not answer the bell in the sixth round, becoming the Filipino’s 15th Mexican victim. Raul’s twin brother Ramon was also a victim of Nietes in 2011.
Garcia said that he felt tired and spent owing to the heat. That’s why he requested for a rematch to be staged in his country.
Nietes, of course, shrugged it off saying that there was nothing left to prove owing to the lopsided result.
“I want to provide inspiration to young, aspiring boxers” said Nietes, who thanked the crowd, estimated to be 8,000-strong, for their all-out support. Newly-elected Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia was among those who watched from ringside.
Given a choice, Nietes said he’d rather forego his mandatory title defense against Mexican Moises Fuentes in favor of challenging World Boxing Association and WBO flyweight king Juan Francisco Estrada, also of Mexico.
Unknown to Nietes, however, ALA Promotions president and CEO Michael Aldeguer had sealed the deal for their third fight on Sept. 24 at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
The fight with Estrada, however, is being worked out and could happen early next year, according to Aldeguer, who bared that plans are also afoot for ALA Promotions to make a foray in Europe next year.
Hours before the fight card jointly staged by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, Aldeguer told Manila-based sportswriters that Nietes’ longevity in the ring was hardly surprising owing to his work ethic and dedication to his craft.
“He was never late for practice, never encountered weight problems and is still eager to learn and improve on his skills,” said Aldeguer.
No wonder, the humble Nietes remains on top of his game.