SNAKE?S LAIR: NIETES HEATS UP SPARRING SESSIONS AT THE ALA GYM

CEBU - It was another day at the office for WBO light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes (31W-1L-3D, 17 KO?s), who is already in the thick of preparations for his upcoming title defense against WBO minimumweight champion Moises Fuentes of Mexico. Nietes started Thursday afternoon with a routine warm-up jog inside the ALA Gym compound with WBO Asia-Pacific superbantamweight titlist Genesis Servania and OPBF minimumweight titlist Merlito Sabillo.

Nietes later sparred with bantamweights and superbantamweights. He looked very sharp against sparring partners Ralph Lulu, Pedro Balaba and Bryan Lobitania who tried their best to stand up to the champion?s assault.

Nietes' last fight in November was a non-title affair in Dumaguete City against Thai Danai Meendaeng who was stopped in five rounds.

Fuentes (16W-1L, 8 KO?s) won his title by beating countryman Raul Garcia by split decision last August 2011.

Junior welterweight Jimrex Jaca is also preparing to fight on the undercard of PINOY PRIDE 18 against a still to be named opponent. Jaca had no problem going through his three sparring partners. Servania is also set to see action against Angky Angkotta of Indonesia.

Pinoy Pride 18 will be on March 2 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.