Filipino ring warrior Donnie ‘Ahas’? Nietes, currently the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion, is chasing the monumental longevity record of the late boxing legend Gabriel ‘Flash’? Elorde.
Can he finally surpass the record of Elorde as the longest reigning Filipino world champion?
To date, the 32-year-old Nietes has been world champion for six years and eight months. He is currently preparing for his voluntary title defense against Mexico’s Carlos Velarde in Cebu on Nov. 15.
In the event Nietes (33-1-4 with 19 knockouts) gets rid of Velarde (26-3-1, 14 knockouts), he would be moving closer to the long-standing record of Elorde who ruled the world super featherweight division for seven years and three months.
It would mean Nietes’ reign as a world champion in the minimum weight and light flyweight divisions would last seven years, one month and 15 days.
And if Nietes holds on to the title until Jan. 1 of 2015, he will finally surpass the longevity record of Elorde who won the world super featherweight title on March 16, 1960 by knocking out defending world champion Harold Gomes in seven rounds here in Manila.
Elorde was able to defend the crown 10 times until June 15, 1967 when he lost a majority decision to Yoshiaki Numata of Japan. This made him the longest reigning world junior lightweight champion ever in the division to remain today the most beloved Filipino boxer after Manny Pacquiao.
Should Nietes retain his supremacy in his coming bout, he would be one of the best Filipino boxers ever, a defining moment for him and Philippine boxing as well.
After his fight with Velarde, and most likely one more early next year, Nietes is planning to move up in weight ‘? to flyweight ‘? to chase a third division world crown.
Among the names being floated as possible opponents are reigning World Boxing Organization champion Juan Franciscon Estrada, who won the WBO and World Boxing Association belts in a split decision win over Filipino Brian Viloria in Macau and retained the title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Milan Melindo.
Nietes, who has for years quietly remained in the shadow of Filipino superstars Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire Jr., started his career as a professional boxer in 2003 at the age of 20. He strung together victories until he won his first championship, the Philippines Boxing Federation (PBF) light flyweight title against Joseph Villasis via first-round technical knockout.
The pride of Bacolod first became a world champion on September 30, 2007 when he beat then undefeated Pornsawarn Kratingdaenggym of Thailand via unanimous decision for the vacant WBO Minimumweight World Title at Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel, Cebu City, Philippines.
But before he thinks of moving up in weight class, Nietes must first defend his world world in the 108-lb class against Velarde.
If we were to believe his strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson, Nietes is much better this time, more confident and displays more power and stamina than his last fight a few months ago, when he dropped mandatory Mexican challenger Moises Fuentes three times in the ninth round and eventually knocked him out in their rematch.
Nietes is upbeat of retaining the 108-lb title in stunning fashion again just like what he did in battering Fuentes.
Just a word of caution: Nietes may just be a couple of months away from setting a new record, but his camp should not underestimate Velarde, who like other Mexican fighters, is a tough ring warrior who is capable of shattering his dreams.
