IT?S getting old.
Donnie Nietes has heard the same line over and over again from his opponents that they?re going to knock him out. However, nobody has ever actually put him decked him in his 11-year career as a pro pug.
This Saturday night won?t be any different in his past 38 fights.
?He (Velarde) has to do it on top of the ring and not through words. I heard this a lot from the Mexicans but nobody has ever done it,? Nietes, 33-1-4 with 19 knockouts, said in yesterday?s final press conference.
Nietes is defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight belt against Mexican Carlos Velarde in the main event of Pinoy Pride – ?History in the Making? at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
The 24-year-old Mexican challenger earlier vowed to knock out Nietes. But after seeing the 32-year-old two division champion in person, Velarde didn?t seem as confident as he was last Tuesday.
?I didn?t mention that I will knock him out, but I?m capable of a knockout,? he said.
Velarde, 26-3-1 with 14 knockouts, has fought for a world title once in his career but was stopped by mini-flyweight champion Rio Miyazaki last year in the fifth.
Velarde hasn?t had much success in international fights losing both fights, one in Panama and the other in Japan, which makes someone believe that he isn?t a good visiting fighter.
?It?s a great reason to think that way,? said Velarde. ?That fight in Japan was a good one. I just got hit. I?m not at all intimidated by him. It?s not how many times you lose but how many times you rise up.?
Nietes is attempting to break the 47-year-old record of the late great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde of being the longest reigning Filipino world champion. If Nietes beats Velarde, he?ll just sit it out the rest of the year and break Elorde?s record.
Former world title contender Milan Melindo (31-1, 12 KOs) attempts another run at a world title when he faces world rated Saul Juarez (20-3, 11 KOs) in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight title eliminator in the co-main feature.
?I?m quicker, faster and stronger (at this weight). I?m not bloated and I feel great,? said Melindo, who hasn?t fought at 108 pounds since his 2009.
The winner gets mandatory status and will be next in line for the IBF light flyweight belt currently around the waist of Mexican Javier Mendoza.
?He?s good. I won?t take him lightly,? said the 26-year-old Melindo.
This is Juarez?s ticket to a world title shot and a chance to make a name for himself by beating one of the best fighters in the lower weight divisions. He?s confident of his chances.
?He will recognize the power of a Mexican fighter. I respect him but I?m surprised why he went down in weight. He has to be faster and stronger for this fight if he expects to beat me,? said the 23-year-old Juarez, rated 4th in the World Boxing Association and eighth in the IBF.
Fast-rising unbeaten prospect Albert Pagara (21-0, 15 KOs) gets his stiffest test to date as he defends his IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight strap against mandatory challenger Raul Hirales (22-3-1, 11 KOs) in one of the featured bouts.
IBF and WBO mini-flyweight champion Francisco Rodriguez (16-2, 11 KOs) moves up in weight and takes on last-minute replacement Jomar Fajardo (14-5-1, 7 KOs).
This Pinoy Pride is the biggest edition yet with two stars and a promising prospect from the ALA Gym also seeing action in the undercard.
Former world champion Merlito Sabillo (23-1-1, 12 KOs) faces off with Indonesian Faris Nenggo (8-6-3, 2 KOs), two-time world title challenger AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (31-2-1, 22 KOs) locks horns with Maxsaisai Sithsaithong (15-5, 4 KOs) and unbeaten youngster Mark Magsayo (8-0, 6 KOs) slugs it out with Moon Sun Jung (2-3-3).
