Nietes vows to keep WBO belt vs Salguero Friday

CONFIDENT of his improved form, Donnie Nietes sees a successful defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight championship against Mexican Felipe Salguero in the main event of Pinoy Pride XIV: Night of Champions tomorrow night.

“I wasn’t happy with my last fight, but I’ve made a lot of changes,” Nietes said in Filipino during a press conference yesterday at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.

Two other undefeated ALA Boxing Gym stars clash with foreign fighters on the same night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World, Manila.

Milan Melindo (26 wins, 10 KOs) battles Colombian Jesus Geles (13-2-1, 5 KOs) for the WBO international flyweight championship, while Genesis Servania (17, 5 KOs) takes on Mexican Genaro Garcia (38-8, 22 KOs) for the WBC international silver super bantamweight championship.

“Donnie is one of the most underrated champions,” ALA Boxing Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said of Nietes (29-1-3, 16 KOs). “People have to realize that he’s the longest reigning champion we have now.”

A confident Salguero (16-2-1, 11 KOs), however, thinks he can go for a knockout.