New pet snake for Nietes

THE FIRST time a scribe gets to meet  world boxing champ Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, he inevitably has to ask about the snake attached to his name, that which he carries on his shoulders before a fight.

Of course everybody thinks it’s just a  publicity/promotional gimmick, but last Thursday during a press luncheon hosted by ABS-CBN for the major cast of Pinoy Pride XIV, Donnie revealed  his belief in the mystical power of the reptile.

He told me this years ago when I first interviewed him but his pet snake named Matt had died and of late he has been climbing the ring without  a pet from which he draws strength and power.

According to Donnie, his pet which he describes as an “ordinary sawa,” died of indigestion.

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“But while your snake has died, you seem to be as strong and as powerful as ever. His death has not affected your boxing prowess negatively,” I told him over lunch last Thursday.

“Do you still believe that you draw energy from him?”

“When Matt died, he transferred all his energy, all his power to me, that’s why I’m stronger now,” replied Donnie,  who became a father for the first time 9 months ago.

More than the energy infused by a live snake, perhaps  carrying one gives him a clear psychological advantage because just the mere sight of this reptile  can scare his opponent.

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As we talked about the demise of Matt, Donnie pulled out his tablet  from his bag, to show off the image or an orange-colored  snake.

“This is my new pet Don Matt,” Donnie proudly announced.  “He is an albino python. He has grown since I took this photo,” Donnie said as he wrapped his thumb and forefinger  around his forearm.  “He is now this big.”

It is unlikely though, that Don Matt  will be borne on the shoulders of Donnie  as he negotiates his way from the locker room to the ring of  the Newport Performing Arts Theatre of the Resorts World Hotel on  the evening of June 2.

However, for all we know, Don Matt could  have made the trip to Manila with  the ALA Promotions  delegation  and is stashed away in a big bottle or basket  somewhere.

The added energy could come in handy  when Donnie faces challenger Felipe Salguero of Mexico for the WBO light flyweight title in the main event.

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Months before he could set foot in  Manila to challenge Genesis Servania for the  WBC International silver super  bantamweight belt, the  name Genaro Garcia  has  become  familiar to fight fans.

Remember him? Garcia was scheduled for a bout with Boom Boom Bautista some months ago, but to the dismay of local organizers, they found out at the last minute that the Mexican promoter  had brought only a namesake and not the real Genaro Garcia as stipulated in the contract.

To salvage the situation, ALA Promotions decided to push through with the fight, but they had to reimburse  the money paid by ticket holders. I lost track of what happened to the Mexican promoter.

Anyway,  the real Genaro Garcia is coming to Manila on June 2 to join the three high power matches that will also feature  Milan “El Metodico” Melindo, who will defend his  WBO International flyweight title against  Jesus Geles of Colombia.

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According to Roy Luarca of the Inquirer, Melindo was given  the moniker of “El Metodico” although he is a native of Cagayan de Oro, because he is a  thinking, methodical boxer who believes that having smarts could be the most important  asset of a fighter.

“Wiser is stronger than power,” is Melindo’s  favorite line.

Melindo has defeated Carlos Tamara, the same Mexican boxer who beat Brian Viloria by unanimous decision and sent the Hawaiian Punch to the hospital after the fight.  Although he and Brian are in the same weight division,  Melindo said he does not want to fight a fellow Filipino if he can help it.