Philippines, 03 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Finally, Respect for Nietes


PhilBoxing.com




Why did Filipino world champion Donnie Nietes go into the hometown of his opponent in Mexico to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight championship of the world? To some, it wouldn?t make sense. To others, it was like committing suicide. But to Donnie, it was all about respect.

Respect he should earn now, after defending his championship through a convincing unanimous decision win over challenger Erik Ramirez in a fight that saw the Mexican hitting the deck four times. And Nietes did all this in Ramirez?s hometown of Oaxaca , Mexico. The irony of it all is that it was Nietes who wanted the fight badly just to gain respect from the boxing community.

In a presscon held for Nietes the other night, ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer said that after winning the WBO world championship and defending it once here in Cebu, it was imperative that Nietes fight and win a big one abroad to gain the recognition that has somehow eluded him since he won the belt in 2007.

?Respect is what he?s looking for. A third fight here wouldn?t have helped. He needed this for his career. But more importantly, he really wanted this one. Donnie?s dream was to fight a Mexican in Mexico,? Aldeguer said.

Knowing that the odds were stacked against him even if he was the defending champion, Nietes relied on his excellent conditioning, rigid mental preparation, his overhand right and the bonus of a small ring to get the job done. Fighting in Mexico for the first time was not a major issue for Nietes who was unusually calm and mentally focused for the fight. Nietes scored his first knockdown through an overhand right hand in the very first round even if the plan then was to study the opponent early in the fight. The same right hand sent the challenger down three more times in the fifth, ninth and twelfth round to throw away any doubts on the fight?s outcome.

Trainer Edmund Villamor acknowledged that it was Nietes? consistent use of the double jab that set up the right hand. Nietes was the aggressor for most of the fight while Ramirez seemed to have adopted a fight plan of just simply piling up points from a boxer?s stance. The smaller ring helped the cause of Nietes as Ramirez as a target didn?t have much room for running. In the end, Nietes won on the scorecards of all three judges. Cesar Ramos and Victor Salomon scored the bout 115-109 and 116-108, respectively for Nietes, while Jon Stewart scored it a close 113-111 also for Nietes, a score which raised some eyebrows. If Nietes hadn?t scored at least three knockdowns, he would?ve lost in Stewart?s scorecard.

Another Mexican is next in line for Nietes. Even before getting the chance to give Nietes a warm welcome, Team ALA was already instructed by the WBO to start negotiations with the promoters of WBO interim champion Manuel Vargas for a showdown for the regular championship of Nietes. Vargas is handled by well-known promoter Fernando Beltran, the same promoter of Erik Morales, Jose Luis Castillo and Ulysses Solis.

After defending his title twice, Team ALA hopes that Nietes finally proves that he belongs up there with his more popular stablemates like Z Gorres, Boom Boom Bautista and AJ Banal. ?In Team ALA , we always believed that Donnie always had it. ALA himself believed in Donnie,? Aldeguer quipped.

The big question now is whether or not the boxing public will give him the respect he deserves.

Top photo: Nietes celebrates after successfully defending his title in Mexico.


Nietes displays his belt during Wednesday night's presscon at the Sugbahan Restaurant in Mandaue City.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rico Navarro.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Allan Villanueva vs. Jyl Wright Headlines Peter Maniatis Event in Melbourne Oct. 3
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BUSTAMANTE AND JONES NAMED CAPTAINS FOR REYES CUP 2025
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Mike Tyson Joins BoltBetz as Strategic Investor and Promotional Partner to Usher in a New Era of Cashless Gaming
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOXING LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO LAUNCHES “MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS” IN THE UNITED STATES
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS HUNTING THE BIG FISH AT 154LBS
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • IBA Unveils Historic 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as Part of a Spectacular Two-Week ‘Festival of Boxing’ in Dubai with Unprecedented $8 Million Prize Pool
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Final Bell for 2025 USA Boxing National Open Event National Open Event Concludes with 1,870 Registered Participants in Tulsa, Oklahoma
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 15: JOE FRAZIER’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • World Boxing relocates Congress 2025 to Rome
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Behind the WBC Boxing Grand Prix
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST IVICA PUTNIK AS DRAW CONFIRMED FOR 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • CUBAN FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOENLI HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI & GUSTAVO TRUJILLO HEADLINE ‘FISTS OF FURY 8’
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • USA Boxing Finishes Canada Duel Undefeated
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • Dana White Seeks to Make Significant Changes in the World Boxing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 September 2025: Ferreira Retains IBF 135 Belt by Outpointing Moneo; Clavel Dethrones IBF 105 Champ Cudos
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez Facing Extended Layoff After Crawford Loss; Surgery Confirms Injury Rumors
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Dante Stone is last American standing in Inaugural WBC Grand Prix
    , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Age Defying Triumph: At Age 50 Toshihiko Era Wins World Title
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • TKO and Zuffa Boxing sign streaming agreement with Paramount
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Boxing Ephemera, Pacquiao’s Mouthguard, and the Meaning of It All
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • A turning point for global sport: IBA President Umar Kremlev and Donald Trump Jr join forces
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • Rosia captures PBF super fly title
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • Tancontians starred 2025 Sports Heroes Night
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” guest list
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 28 Sep 2025
  • Why Do So Many Boxers Play eGames?
    , Sun, 28 Sep 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.