Donnie Nietes. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)
Promoters of four-division champion Donnie Nietes denied that they are ducking an emerging power in the super flyweight division, fellow Filipino Aston Palicte.
ALA Promotions president and chief executive officer Michael Aldeguer said they have been discussing a rematch with Palicte through his handlers, Roy Jones Jr. Promotions, since the first week of February.
“We never said we won’t be fighting Palicte,” Aldeguer said through a statement relayed to the Inquirer by trainer Edito Ala Villamor. “What we said is Nietes is looking for bigger fights and still weighing options, including fighting Palicte.”
Now they will have no other choice but to face the Bago City native after the World Boxing Organization on Friday ordered a purse bid for their fight.
The bidding will be on Feb. 28, with all legitimate promoters, including those of Nietes and Palicte, submitting a bid with a minimum amount of $100,000.
Purse bids are called when parties fail to come up with an agreement. The winning promoter during the bidding would then have to come up with payment up front, which is usually a percentage of the total purse.