OF COURSE, the Pinoy fighter who had the biggest year of ?em all was none other than local darling Donnie Nietes.
?Ahas? finally broke the long-standing record of Flash Elorde of seven years and three months as a world boxing champion, and did so in impressive fashion.
First off was a rematch against nemesis Moises Fuentes. To recall, Fuentes and Nietes battled to a majority draw back in 2013. The first fight became controversial as both camps had different takes on which fighter deserved the verdict.
AdvertisementOF COURSE, the Pinoy fighter who had the biggest year of ?em all was none other than local darling Donnie Nietes.
?Ahas? finally broke the long-standing record of Flash Elorde of seven years and three months as a world boxing champion, and did so in impressive fashion.
First off was a rematch against nemesis Moises Fuentes. To recall, Fuentes and Nietes battled to a majority draw back in 2013. The first fight became controversial as both camps had different takes on which fighter deserved the verdict.
But in the rematch, Nietes left nothing to chance and made sure he would not leave the decision in the hands of the judges. Fighting with renewed vigor and energy like we had never seen before, Nietes proved to be too fast and too good for the younger, stronger Fuentes.
Donnie bobbed and weaved and made Fuentes miss all night. Then he bloodied him by landing flush counters as the ring canvas was repainted crimson from the blood gushing out of the young Mexican.
This Last Rounder was ringside at the Mall of Asia Arena that night, and I recall marveling that Nietes looked like a young, prime Gerry Pe?alosa in there.
Nietes dominated Fuentes, knocked him down three times in the ninth round, before finishing him off.
Donnie fought again in November of last year and successfully defended his WBO Junior flyweight diadem by stopping Mexican Carlos Velarde in seven one-sided rounds.
Velarde had no answer to Nietes? snappy jab and speed. At the end of the sventh stanza, Velarde?s corner had to throw in the towel, causing the d?nouement of the match.
The previous plan after breaking Elorde?s record was to move up in flyweight to challenge either WBA/WBO flyweight king Juan Francisco Estrada or WBC king Roman Gonzales.
However, it seems like ALA Promotions is in no hurry to rush Donnie and is still considering the best option out there for their prized ward.
Whatever that decision will be, 2015 seems like a breakout year for Nietes. He is the best fighter in the ALA stable and he needs to capitalize on that momentum right now.
John Riel Casimero was another one of our world champions who lost his title by the time the year ended. What?s doubly tough was the fact that he lost it on the scales and not inside the squared circle.
Casimero failed to make weight in his fight against Mauricio Fuentes in May of last year and was stripped of his IBF light flyweight crown.
The fight pushed through with Fuentes having the opportunity to win the crown. As an added penalty, Casimero was also required to wear heavier gloves. However, that didn?t seem to faze him as he promptly bludgeoned Fuentes in 2:59 of the very first round.
?Quadro Alas? would move up to the flyweight division and demonstrate that was able to carry that prodigious power in his fists by stopping Mexican Armando Santos in just two rounds last Dec. 13 at Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
At 24 years of age, Casimero is still starting to fill out his frame and weight issues will continue to beset him. But that?s part of being a world champion and he should be up to the challenge lest this becomes an infirmity that will derail rise to the top.
What a waste of serious talent if this kid doesn?t become a world champion again.
(next week, Brian Viloria, Merlito Sabillo, Marvin Sonsona)
LAST ROUND. It?s on Mimi Maureen Lim-Co who celebrates her birthday this week. Cheers! Follow me on Twitter @thelastround
But in the rematch, Nietes left nothing to chance and made sure he would not leave the decision in the hands of the judges. Fighting with renewed vigor and energy like we had never seen before, Nietes proved to be too fast and too good for the younger, stronger Fuentes.
Donnie bobbed and weaved and made Fuentes miss all night. Then he bloodied him by landing flush counters as the ring canvas was repainted crimson from the blood gushing out of the young Mexican.
This Last Rounder was ringside at the Mall of Asia Arena that night, and I recall marveling that Nietes looked like a young, prime Gerry Pe?alosa in there.
Nietes dominated Fuentes, knocked him down three times in the ninth round, before finishing him off.
Donnie fought again in November of last year and successfully defended his WBO Junior flyweight diadem by stopping Mexican Carlos Velarde in seven one-sided rounds.
Velarde had no answer to Nietes? snappy jab and speed. At the end of the sventh stanza, Velarde?s corner had to throw in the towel, causing the d?nouement of the match.
The previous plan after breaking Elorde?s record was to move up in flyweight to challenge either WBA/WBO flyweight king Juan Francisco Estrada or WBC king Roman Gonzales.
However, it seems like ALA Promotions is in no hurry to rush Donnie and is still considering the best option out there for their prized ward.
Whatever that decision will be, 2015 seems like a breakout year for Nietes. He is the best fighter in the ALA stable and he needs to capitalize on that momentum right now.
John Riel Casimero was another one of our world champions who lost his title by the time the year ended. What?s doubly tough was the fact that he lost it on the scales and not inside the squared circle.
Casimero failed to make weight in his fight against Mauricio Fuentes in May of last year and was stripped of his IBF light flyweight crown.
The fight pushed through with Fuentes having the opportunity to win the crown. As an added penalty, Casimero was also required to wear heavier gloves. However, that didn?t seem to faze him as he promptly bludgeoned Fuentes in 2:59 of the very first round.
?Quadro Alas? would move up to the flyweight division and demonstrate that was able to carry that prodigious power in his fists by stopping Mexican Armando Santos in just two rounds last Dec. 13 at Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
At 24 years of age, Casimero is still starting to fill out his frame and weight issues will continue to beset him. But that?s part of being a world champion and he should be up to the challenge lest this becomes an infirmity that will derail rise to the top.
What a waste of serious talent if this kid doesn?t become a world champion again.
(next week, Brian Viloria, Merlito Sabillo, Marvin Sonsona)
LAST ROUND. It?s on Mimi Maureen Lim-Co who celebrates her birthday this week. Cheers! Follow me on Twitter @thelastround
