Longest reigning Filipino world champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes fights for the first time in the flyweight division against Edgar Sosa. The Mexican is a former WBC light flyweight champion and Nietes is the former WBO minimumweight and light flyweight champion in a battle of ex-champs.
Also The Ring light flyweight champion, Nietes is the gem of the ALA Gym. He was just a utility worker of the Aldeguer family, principally taking care of their pet python, thus the "Ahas" monicker. Until he tried to work on the punching bags and the rest is world boxing history.
At 34, the Murcia, Negros Occidental native moves to the more lucrative flyweight division in search of big-name opponents. He was aiming at WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada and even pound-for-pound king Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez.
His only career loss was inflected by Indonesian Angky Angkota on a controversial split decision 12 years ago in Jakarta. His professional record now is 38-1-4 with 22 KO's. For more than eight years now, Nietes is 14-0-1 in world title fights.
Nietes is the only world champion in the famed ALA Gym stable at present. And he is capable of winning a third division world title. He needs more reputable opponents to propel himself to the big time and follow the trail of eight division world champion Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Photo: Donnie Nietes flexes his muscles during the official weighin held at the Eagle Rock Plaza Mall in Eagle Rock, CA Friday.
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