DONNIE NIETES aims to make history tonight by becoming the longest reigning Filipino world champion. But it won?t just be about breaking a 47-year-old record, but rather making a statement, that he is the best at 108 pounds, with another emphatic win.
?I think I will knock him out. I just don?t know what round,? said Nietes after the weigh-in yesterday at Robinson?s Fuente.
Nietes is defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight title against WBO No. 5 Carlos Velarde in the main event of Pinoy Pride 28 ? ?History in the Making? at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
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If Nietes wins, he will sit out the rest of the year and will beat the late great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde?s record of seven years and three months as a world champion.
Despite all of his career?s work at stake in this fight, the 32-year-old Nietes feels that it is just another day in the job.
?I don?t feel any pressure at all. I?m just focused on this fight,? said Nietes.
Nietes tipped the scales at 107 ? pounds, while the 24-year-old Velarde just made the limit of 108 pounds.
Nietes is 33-1-4 with 19 knockouts and has won his last two fights by knockout, one against the division?s elite, Moises Fuentes. Prior that fight, Fuentes has never been knocked out.
Velarde is 26-3-1 with 16 knockouts.
After this fight, Nietes plans to move up with the big guns at 112 and wants to face the likes of Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada, two of the best flyweights in the world.
One-time world title challenger Milan Melindo and fast-rising unbeaten prospect Albert Pagara are also looking to put on a show and end their fight respective fights in devastating fashion.
The 26-year-old Melindo (31-1, 12 KOs) faces world-rated Mexican Saul Juarez (20-3, 11 KOs) in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight title eliminator.
?I will look for the knockout but I?m also ready to go the distance. My stamina has improved so much with the new strength and conditioning of Nick Curson,? Melindo said.
The winner of the IBF eliminator becomes the mandatory challenger of IBF light flyweight champion Javier Mendoza.
Pagara (21-0, 15 KOs) is defending his IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight belt against what could be his toughest test to date, veteran Raul Hirales (22-3-1, 11 KOs).
?I assure you, a knockout will happen,? said the 20-year-old Pagara.
WBO and IBF mini-flyweight king Francisco Rodriguez (16-2, 11 KOs) faces off with last-minute replacement Jomar Fajardo (14-5-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round non-title bout in one of the featured fights.
The Pinoy Pride 28 undercard is stacked with stars and prospects, former world champion Merlito Sabillo (23-1-1, 12 KOs) takes on Indonesian Faris Nenggo (8-6-3, 2 KOs), two-time world title challenger AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (31-2-1, 22 KOs) will face Thai veteran Maxsaisai Sithsaithong (15-5, 4 KOs) and 19-year-old unbeaten prospect Mark Magsayo (8-0, 6 KOs) will fight 18-year-old South Korean Moon Sung Jung (2-3-3).
AJ Banal?s younger brother and amateur standout Polid Banal makes his mark in the pro ranks as he makes his debut against Ritchen Rosales (0-1), Virgel Vitor and Gerard Suico also make their ring debut against Jovane Abejero (0-1) and Fritz Cabilla (1-2).
