Philippines, 25 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


OFFICIALS FOR NIETES-RODRIGUEZ TITLE FIGHT HAVE ARRIVED


PhilBoxing.com




GUASAVE ? The WBO officials for Donnie Nietes's title defense tomorrow night (Sunday morning in Manila) against local boy Mario Rodriguez have arrived into this subdued town with a population of less than 100,000.

Supervisor is Rafael Lopez Santos of Mexico City, the third man in the ring is Raul Caiz Sr of West Covina, CA and the judges are Levi Martinez of New Mexico, USA, Alejandro Lopez of Mexico City and Thomas Nardone of Florida, USA.

The veteran Raul Caiz, whose career as ring official spanned 24 years, last refereed during the Andre Ward vs Allan Green WBA super middleweight title fight in Oakland, CA last June. His most recent high profile outings included the Maidana-Ortiz and the Mosley-Margarito fights of 2009 and the Vargas-Mayorga fight in 2007. Caiz is the father of Raul Jr who is also making a name for himself as a referee and a judge.

Levi Matinez of New Mexico, USA is also another veteran ring official who started judging fights in 1993. His last assignment was for the WBA welterweight title fight between Viacheslav Senchenko and Charlie Jose Navarro in Donetsk, Ukraine on Aug. 30 this year.

Alejandro Lopez of Mexico City is an 8-year veteran judge who sit as a judge in the Johnriel Casimero vs Ramon Garcia Hirales fight last July in Los Monchis, Richie Mepranum vs Julio Cesar Miranda in Puebla last June and the Ulises Solis vs Bert Batawang second fight in Baja California on March 27 this year. Unfortunately for the Filipino fighters in these fights, they all lost.

Thomas Nardone of Florida, USA last sit as a judge in the Saul Alvarez vs Luciano Lionel Cuello WBC Silver light middleweight battle in Guadalajara, Mexico on July 7, 2010. More importantly, Nardone was also one of the judges during Nietes's last outing in Mexico against Manuel Vargas in Nayarit which Nietes won by split decision. Nardone scored that bout in Nietes's favor 118-110.

Official weighin will be at 1:30 p.m. local time Friday while undercard bouts start at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Auditorio Luis Estrada Medina here in Guasave.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Donaire back in Cebu
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
    , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 7: 1936 OLYMPICS AT BERLIN, GERMANY
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Usyk and Zuffa Boxing Negotiations Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.