Nietes risks WBO title June 2; Melindo ready

WHEN Donnie “Ahas” Nietes saw tapes of Felipe Salguero’s latest fights, the Filipino World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion was pleasantly surprised.

The Mexican challenger was an inferior version of himself.

“Our styles are somewhat similar,” Nietes told sportswriters in Filipino. “He’s just a little bit slower.”

According to Nietes (29 wins, 1 loss, 3 draws with 16 KOs), Salguero will be vulnerable to an overhead punch, left hook or an uppercut, when they tangle on June 2 in the main event of Pinoy Pride XIV at Resorts World Hotel & Casino in Pasay City.

The 31-year-old Nietes refused to predict a knockout victory, saying he’s prepared to go 12 rounds with Salguero (16-2-1 with 11 KOs), the former World Boxing Federation light flyweight titlist, who also claims to be familiar with the Bacolodnon’s style.

Salguero, ranked No. 7 by the WBO, will be arriving in Manila with compatriot Genaro Garcia and Colombian boxer Jesus Geles on Sunday.

Unbeaten Milan Melindo (26-0 with 10 KOs) will be facing Geles (13-2-1 with 5 KOs), also a former WBO light flyweight champion, for the WBO international flyweight title in the chief support of the 66-round card jointly organized by ABS-CBN Sports and Ala Promotions.

Prime prospect Genesis Servania (17-0 with 5 KOs) of Ala Gym, will dispute the WBC international super-bantamweight title with Garcia (38-8 with 22 KOs) in the night’s last 12-rounder.

Melindo said Geles is long, tall and capable, but seems to be weak in the midsection.

“He (Geles), however, always fights back even if he get’s hurt,” added Melindo, who belongs to the Ala stable with Nietes and Servana.

The Cebu-based fighters were accompanied to Manila by  trainers Edito and Edmund Villamor and Ala vice president Dennis Canete.

Pinoy Pride XIV will be shown by pay-per-view through TFCNow and Balls HD. It will be available in the United States, Middle East, Europe and Australia.

Channel 2 will air select bouts starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The last televised bout pits Bacolod’s Arthur Villanueva against Jeffery Cerna.