Sports Eye
Nietes chases super fight
By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.
GONE were the crowns of our three boxing greats, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (welterweight), Donito “The Filpino Flash” Donaire, Jr. (featherweight), and Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria (flyweight). They all lost their world belts one after the other. Donaire and Viloria’s setbacks were via humiliating stoppages while icon Pacquiao lost via a controversial unanimous decision. Latest report says Pacman versus the retired Mayweather rematch is in the offing but I don’t think it will be done because that will no longer be marketable.
So out of the four world champs, we only have one left, and that’s Donnie “Ahas” Nietes who holds the WBO (World Boxing Organization) light flyweight (108 lbs) diadem. He was successful in defending his title via a lopsided-unanimous decision against the sturdy Juan “Pinky” Alejo of Mexico on October 18 at Carson City, California. After that boost-feeling victory, Nietes, 33, is determined to go after the flyweight belt (112 lbs) owned by the undefeated (44-0) Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzales of Nicaragua, the tormentor of Viloria, calling out to fight him. But there has been no word from the Nicaraguan icon’s camp except that Gonzales was reported to go up for the super flyweight division (115 pounds). If that happens, there is no chance at all that the Negros Occidental-born Nietes will square off with Gonzales unless the latter changes his mind. It will be a ‘super fight’ knowing that Gonzales is now the pound-for-pound king replacing the retired Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr., the conqueror of Pacquiao. Nietes being undefeated since 2007 with 29 consecutive wins, is a legitimate challenger. It’s been eight years and counting as world champion for Nietes and has been yearning for this fight years ago.
Nietes, toting a record of 37 with 21 KOs, single defeat and four draws, will earn the respect of the international fight community and could improve his market value if he fights, and especially, beats the super star Gonzales. He, is now the hottest Filipino world champion and will be the underdog but he can score a major upset because he has that pesky and unique style of punching that after crouching will cautiously throw overhand right-left combinations that can ruin an enemy’s rhythm. Nietes can also easily adjust his moves if his opponent has a different style. It is this unique style of Nietes that made him win 29 consecutive times and earned him the moniker “super champion” by WBO. There were only two Filipino world-boxing champions that bagged this prestigious award by WBO and the other was Pacman. So with or without super fight vs. Gonzalez, Nietes in my personal acuity is now one of the best Filipino ring warriors this country ever produced, next to Pacman, and surpassing the other great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.
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Some of our basketball buffs are disappointed to know that the much-awaited best-of-three championship series of the UCAAP Inter-Collegiate Jimmy Fernandez Basketball Challenge was postponed anew after typhoon Lando. Latest excuse I received inside the camp of the league who spoke on condition of anonymity was because of the semester break. My source said the national basketball college tournaments in Manila (UAAP and NCAA) are never interrupted by students’ two-week break unlike here in Dagupan. The postponement has made the local tourney anti-climatic. Well, it’s the prerogative of the organizers. And so be it.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. “I and My Father are one.” JOHN 10: 29-30
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