NIETES SAYS HE WANTS TO FACE SOLIS, THE 'PINOY ASSASIN'

CEBU CITY -- World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes has informed that he is willing to face the bigger IBF light flyweight champ Ulises Solis if only to put a halt to the latter's seeming luck against Filipino fighters.

Solis has been branded by many as the "Filipino Assasin" or "Pinoy Killer" due to his successive wins over three tough Filipinos in his title defenses namely Rodel Mayol, Bert Batawang, and lately Glenn Donaire, whom he decisioned last Sunday to retain his title.

"I want to fight him. Let him fight me," said Nietes in an interview yesterday during a lull in his training at the famed ALA Gym.

Nietes is preparing for his August 30 title defense against Nicaraguan Eddy Castro at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

The WBO has informed Nietes that should he get past Castro, he should defend his title against the mandatory challenger within 120 days.

Nietes says after he takes care of his mandatory obligation, he plans to seek out a battle against Solis.

Trainer Edmund Villamor, in a separate interview, agrees with Nietes that Solis is a perfect opponent for his ward "because he can be hit."

Villamor would rather face Solis, who comes to fight, instead of a runner like Ivan Calderon, who was once described by promoter Bob Arum as a "boring fighter but a great kid" whose fights are always "a joy to watch in the first four rounds, after which you want to go drink beer."