Today is the day of reckoning for World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes of the Philippines and Erik Ramirez of Mexico. Both boxers passed the official weigh-in with flying colors yesterday and all is set for the battle of the WBO crown.
The site of the WBO title fight is Oaxaca, Mexico. The City of Oaxaca is the capital and the largest city of the state of the same name Oaxaca in Mexico. The metropolitan area of Oaxaca which includes seventeen different municipalities has a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants.
It is the home of the Guelaguetza native arts and dance festival. The "Guelaguetza" or "Los lunes del cerro" (Mondays of the Hill) is a yearly cultural and artistic celebration that is already well-publicized all throughout Mexico.
The celebration simultaneously takes place in town centers all over the state of Oaxaca. The celebration involves parades complete with walking bands and the marketing of food, and souvenirs, and features dancing in costume in groups.
Fighting in adversary's territory, Nietes will try to preserve one of the remaining three Filipino world boxing crowns. The other two are the WBO bantamweight title held by Gerry Pe?alosa and the IBF/IBO flyweight crown held by Nonito Donaire, Jr.
Manny Pacquiao reportedly has surrendered his WBC lightweight title he won from David Diaz. But he holds the prestigious title as The Ring Magazine number one pound-for-pound boxer of the world.
Ramirez has a slight advantage in experience and has the hometown support. The Mexican is not a bum and currently the WBO Latino minimumweight champion.
Ramirez is rated No.2 in the minimumweight category by the WBO and is ranked No. 6 by the World Boxing Council and No. 11 by the World Boxing Association in the same category. Ramirez has a 61.29% KO rate.
Neites has to score a knockout or send his opponent to the canvas to ensure the successful defense of his crown. If he fails to stop Ramirez, it would mean danger to the Filipino champion.
Filipino fight fans are praying for the victory of Donnie. His vaunted knockout punch will be his main weapon in the hostile Mexican territory.
Top photo: Nietes (L) and Ramirez at Friday's weighin in Oaxaca, Mexico. Photo by Reiver Rodriquez.
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