FRANCISCO Rodriguez looked awful and didn?t appear to be a former world champion in his first and only other fight here in Cebu.
Though brimming with self-confidence leading up to his Cebu debut last year, Rodriguez was surprised and absorbed almost all of last-minute replacement Jomar Fajardo?s wallops that wiped the smile off of his bloody face. He luckily walked away with draw against a boxer whom he was supposed to obliterate.
Some may have doubts if he really has a shot at dethroning the longest-reigning Filipino world champion Donnie Nietes. However, ALA Gym head coach Edito Villamor believes that the 21-year-old Mexican is the real deal and that he shouldn?t be underestimated at all.
?Maybe his fight with Fajardo was an off day,? said Villamor told Sun.Star Cebu.
?Rodriguez is a world champion and he shouldn?t be taken lightly. We believe that he will be in great condition and in top shape for this fight.?
Nietes is defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) and The Ring lineal light flyweight titles against No. 1 contender Rodriguez this Saturday night in the main event of Pinoy Pride 31 ? ?Clash of the World Champions? at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
The 33-year-old Nietes has fought some notable names in the lower weight classes ? the likes of Moises Fuentes, Pornsawan Porpramook, Ramon Garcia-Hirales, Jesus Silvestre and Mario Rodriguez.
Villamor believes that Rodriguez will be up there with Fuentes as possibly the hardest opponents of Nietes.
?He is at the same level of Moises Fuentes,? he said. ?They both are hard to fight but Donnie is very much ready because of his preparation and his endless dedication and discipline towards training.?
Nietes was recently named as the longest reigning Filipino world champion after beating the legendary Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde?s record with a win over Carlos Velarde. He came back to defend his crown last March with a ninth round stoppage of game challenger Gilberto Parra at the historic Araneta Coliseum.
Rodriguez, the ex-WBO and International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight king, settled his score with Fajardo with a unanimous decision win in Mexico last January.
