‘Old’ Nietes shoots for flyweight crown

Donnie Nietes tries to add another chapter to his ring legacy when he tangles with Thai Komgrich Nantapech for the vacant International Boxing Federation flyweight title Saturday at Waterfront in Cebu City.

Already the longest reigning Filipino world champion, Nietes will be gunning for his third crown, trailing only eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao and five-division champion Nonito Donaire among local boxers.

Though Nietes (39-1-4, 22 knockouts) is making his initial foray in the 112-pound category, he’s been installed the heavy favorite over Nantapech (22-3, 15 knockouts), whose reputation has been tarnished with losses to Albert Pagara and Froilan Saludar a few years back.

The 34-year-old Nietes said he’ll make Nantapech pay for calling him “old” in the headliner of Pinoy Pride 40 jointly put up by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.

According to Nietes, the former World Boxing Organization strawweight and junior flyweight king, he’s prepared to fight the full 12 rounds—but he won’t hesitate to go for the knockout if the opportunity arises.

If he wins impressively, Nietes, who registered 112.4 in the weight scales on his first try, 112.2 on the second and finally the exact 112 when he removed his underwear in Friday’s weigh-in, said he would like to tackle anyone among World Boxing Association champion Kazuto Ioka, WBO titlist Zou Shiming and World Boxing Council king Juan Hernandez in a unification bout.

Nantapech, 27, was on the dot at 112 on his first try.

Prime prospect Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (15-0, 11 knockouts) collides with Tanzanian Issa Nampepeche (24-7-4) in a featherweight 10-rounder serving as chief support.