Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Nietes restless without a title


PhilBoxing.com




Former WBO minimumweight and lightflyweight champion Donnie Nietes will shoot for a grand slam when he takes on Thailand?s Komgrich (Eaktwan BTU Ruaviking) Nantapech for the vacant IBF flyweight crown in Cebu on April 26 with the prospect of joining Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire, Jr. as the only Filipinos to win world titles in at least three divisions.

Nietes, 34, hasn?t lost since dropping a highly-disputed split decision to Angky Angkota in Jakarta six years ago and intends to extend his unbeaten streak of 31 fights. Nantapech, 27, is on a hot wave himself, winning his last 15 bouts but his three career defeats were inflicted outside of Thailand, including two in Manila so he?s clearly entering the ring to battle Nietes an underdog.

Nietes is out to claim the IBF throne that was vacated by another Filipino Johnriel Casimero. The IBF hasn?t filled up the slots for the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, leaving No. 3 Nietes and No. 4 Nantapech to dispute the title. Nietes, a 14-year pro, holds the Philippine record for the longest uninterrupted reign as world champion, bridging the 105 and 108-pound classes, from 2007 to 2016 when he surrendered the lightflyweight championship voluntarily to move up to 112. Nietes? record is 39-1-4, with 22 KOs, compared to Nantapech?s 22-3, with 15 KOs.

?This bout against Nantapech means so much to me because I would like to be a champion in every division I fight in,? said Nietes, clearly uncomfortable in his current status without a belt. ?Thai fighters never give up so I?m not taking Nantapech lightly. This is good because I want to give a competitive fight for the boxing fans.?

Nietes said Nantapech fights like Wisaksil Wangek, the Thai southpaw who upset Nicaragua?s Roman (Chocolatito) Gonzalez on a majority 12-round decision to claim the WBC superflyweight crown at Madison Square Garden in New York City last March 18. Nantapech isn?t lefthanded like Wisaksil but is just as relentless. ?Nantapech is a brawler like Wisaksil,? said Nietes. ?He has a strong defense and throws a lot of punches, too.?

Nietes said he?s ready for any eventuality in battling Nantapech. ?How I?ll fight him depends on the actual situation when we meet in the ring,? he said, declining to reveal secrets. ?Rest assured, I will be prepared for this fight.?

Nietes said his goal is to unify all the championships in the flyweight division. The WBA title is held by Japan?s Kazuto Ioka with a 21-1 record, including 12 KOs. Ioka will make the fifth defense of the championship against Thailand?s Noknoi Sitthiprasert in Osaka on April 23. Mexico?s Juan Hernandez Navarrete stopped Thailand?s Nawaphon Kaiwanha to capture the vacant WBC title last March 4. China?s Zou Shiming beat Thailand?s Prasitak Phaprom for the vacant WBO crown last November. So assuming Nietes takes the IBF title, his dream is to face Ioka or Navarrete or Shiming next.

If comebacking Brian Viloria looms as a challenger, Nietes said he won?t back down from meeting the Hawaiian Punch. ?I don?t have any problem as to who will be my next opponent,? he said. ?It?s up to my promoter (Michael Aldeguer, president of ALA Boxing) to decide whom I fight. My task is to be ready and be prepared for anyone, anywhere, anytime.?

Nantapech has won only once in four fights outside of Thailand. In 2012, he was knocked out by Nietes? ALA stablemate Albert Pagara in Maasin, Southern Leyte and a year later, was outpointed by Froilan Saludar in Makati. In his most recent outing last September, Nantapech stopped Filipino Jeny Boy Boca in Bangkok. His other Filipino victims were Jayar Diama, Jomar Fajardo, Lionel Legada, Edison Berwela, Renz Llagas and Jimmy Masangkay.

Photo: Donnie Nietes (L) hits the mitts with trainer Edmund Villamor during Nietes's public workout at the Robinson's Galleria in Cebu City last Saturday, April 1. Photo by Dong Secuya.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.