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Philippines, 16 Mar 2026 |
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PINOY PRIDE 28: TEAM MEXICO HITS CEBU By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing.com Tue, 11 Nov 2014  CEBU CITY ? Another action packed Philippines vs Mexico match-up will unfold this Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino when Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes (33W-1L-4D,19KO?s) of the ALA gym defends his WBO junior flyweight world title against Carlos Velarde (26W-3L-1D,14KO?s) of Mexico. Velarde, together with countrymen Saul Juarez (20-3,11KO?s), Raul Hirales (22W-3L-1D, 11KOs) and unified WBO/IBF minimumweight champ Francisco Rodriguez,Jr (16-2,11KO?s), are now in Cebu with their respective training teams for the highly anticipated Pinoy Pride XVIII: ?HISTORY IN THE MAKING?. They met members of the Cebu media Tuesday in a press conference held at the Rajah Park Hotel. The challenger showed respect for Nietes in his statements, ?I know he is solid and a champion. But I want to be a champion myself. Nietes is a technical fighter. But I am a Mexican, this is my advantage.? ?I have received two months advance notice for this fight I prepared well. I have sparred with Carlos Cuadras.? Velarde referred to the WBC super flyweight champion who will defend his title against a Filipino, Marvin Mabait in Washington D.C.on November 13. When asked for a bolder statement, Velarde said, ?I am prepared to give a knockout.? Juarez on the other hand, will be pitted against titlist Milan ?El Metodico? Melindo (31-1,12KO?s) in an IBF jr.flyweight eliminator. ?I know my opponent is a strong fighter and a well experienced fighter. But I am also strong and well experienced. I know how to attack well. So, we will see,? Juarez said. Hirales will be facing IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight titlist ?Prince? Albert Pagara (21-0,15KO?s). Hirales stated that ?I know he is strong, he is young. I will upset his plans and bring the victory back to Mexico.?  Velarde answers questions from the Cebu media Tuesday at the Rajah Park Hotel.  L-R: WBO minimumweight champion Francisco Rodriquez, Carlos Velarde, Saul Juarez and Raul Hirales. Photos by Dong Secuya / PhilBoxing.com. A very interesting addition to this fight card is the Mexican boxer who dethroned Merlito Sabillo earlier this year, Francisco Rodriguez,Jr (16-2,11KO?s). Rodriguez will be moving up to face Jomar Fajardo of Binangonan, Rizal. Rodriguez is looking forward to invading the jr.flyweight ranks. He credits his training team for his high punch output which gave him the WBO and IBF minimumweight belts in his collection. Sabillo will be on the undercard against Faris Nenggo of Indonesia, AJ ?Bazooka? Banal will fight Maxsaisai Sithsaithong of Thailand and Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo will trade punches with Moon-sun Jung of South Korea. Rounding up the blockbuster fight card are Polid Banal vs Ritchen Rosales (4 rounds), Virgel Vitor vs Jovane Abejero (4 rounds) and Gerard Suico vs Frits Cabilla (4 rounds). Nietes, who is also recognized as the linear world champion by Ring magazine, is looking to surpass the seven year three month reign of the great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde at the end of 2014. But first, he must hurdle the challenge of ?Chapito? Velarde in order to make history. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..  |
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