Nietes may fight for WBO light fly title in Bacolod

CEBU CITY—One of the major obstacles has been removed and rising boxing promoter Michael Aldeguer is upbeat that Donnie Nietes will get the chance to showcase his wares before his adoring fans in Bacolod City this August.

Aldeguer said on Saturday that it has been agreed in principle that Nietes will be awarded a shot at the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight (108 lb) crown after deciding to relinquish the WBO minimum weight (105 lb) title a few months back.

The WBO light fly diadem is held by Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales, who is being promoted by Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions.

Aldeguer said WBO president Paco Valcarcel has assured him that Hirales is mandated to face Nietes and that Zanfer Promotions is very receptive to the idea of sending Hirales to the Philippines to defend his belt.

“We will probably formalize everything in the next few weeks,” said Aldeguer, who now calls the shots for ALA Boxing following the decision of his father and long-time patron Tony Aldeguer to keep a low profile.

Aldeguer said there is a strong possibility that the Nietes-Hirales title fight will be held in the morning so the Mexicans can watch it on primetime television.

Nietes has fought thrice on Mexican soil and incredibly won all three, breaking the hearts of those who saw him fight in the cities of Guasave, Nayarit and Oaxaca.

Nietes has a 28-1 slate with 16 knockouts, while Hirales has a 16-2 card with 9 KOs.