LOS ANGELES -- WBO minimumweight champion Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes and top Filipino bantamweight prospect AJ 'Bazooka' Banal have arrived here 5pm Sunday (Monday morning Manila time) via Philippine Airlines. The duo were accompanied by trainer Edmund Villamor.
Nietes is set to defend his title against Erik Ramirez of Mexico on Feb. 28 in Mexico City and is in Los Angeles primarily to acclimatize himself to the time difference and the weather before proceeding to Mexico on Feb. 23. Nietes will wind up his training at Freddie Roach's Wildcard Gym and is expected to spar with Los Angeles-based Filipino contender Rodel Mayol.
Banal, coming off an impressive knockout victory over Nouldy Manakane of Indonesia last Jan. 31 in Bohol, is here for further exposure where he will also train at the Wildcard Gym.
Nietes, Banal and Villamor were met at LAX by long-time supporters Ronald Sanchez and Charm San Jose of the LA-based 3C Wireless cellphone store and later feted with a sumptous dinner at the couple's residence along Edgemont and Beverly Blvd.
Top photo (L-R): AJ Banal, Donnie Nietes and Edmund Villamor at LAX upon their arrival Sunday afternoon. Photo by Joan Secuya.
L-R backrow: Ronald Sanchez, Charm San Jose and trainer Jeremiah Quijano; frontrow: Nietes, Banal, Faye Basquenas of 3C Wireless and trainer Edmund Villamor. Photo by Joan Secuya.
L-R frontrow: Charm San Jose, Nietes, Joan Secuya, Banal and Faye Basquenas; backrow: Quijano and Villamor.
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