DONNIE Nietes is one of the best, if not the best in boxing?s lower weight divisions in years. He has dominated both 105 and 108 pounds and in the last few years, has become a force to be reckoned with in the light flyweight class, where he?s the lineal champion.
There is an old saying, ?Out with the old and in with the new.?
That?s exactly what young Mexican challenger Francisco Rodriguez plans to do, replace an aging king with a young one when he challenges Nietes tomorrow night at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
?Just like the old times, the king has fallen, long live the new king,? a confident 21-year-old Rodriguez said after facing off with Nietes for the cameras in yesterday?s final presser of Pinoy Pride 31 – ?Clash of the World Champions?.
The winner gets to keep the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight belt and also the beautiful The Ring Magazine light flyweight strap, which makes him the king of the 108-pound division.
The brutal sport of boxing is a sport for the young and Nietes isn?t exactly one at 33 years old. But somehow, age doesn?t seem to matter for Nietes because he has been more impressive in his 30s than he has been in his 20s.
?I may be up there in age but I feel young. I feel like I?m just 21,? said Nietes, who has no plans at all to hand his crown to a new king.
Nietes has somehow found his ?fountain of youth? winning his last three fights against much younger challengers–Moises Fuentes, Carlos Velarde and Gilberto Parra. What is more impressive is that he stopped all three.
Nietes has seen it all in his 12-year boxing career and nothing surprises him anymore.
?If he attacks me (aggressively) then I?ll counter him,? Nietes said.
Nietes is 35-1-4 with 21 knockouts, while Rodriguez is 17-2-1 with 11 knockouts.
Undefeated 20-year-old Mark Magsayo (10-0, 8 KOs) is confident that he?ll be doing his trademark back-flip after his fight with Mexican Rafael Reyes (16-4, 12 KOs) and walk out of the ring as the new IBF Youth featherweight champion.
?I know I will be able to do a back-flip,? said Magsayo. ?I?m sure I will win because I?m more prepared.?
Confident
Reyes, 24, is also certain of a win and he?s already looking past Magsayo. He?s looking at challenging Magsayo?s stable mate Albert Pagara after a win this Saturday night.
?That?s why I?m here, to win and show what Mexicans are made of,? he said.
Former amateur standout Kevin Jake Cataraja makes his much-anticipated pro debut against Indonesian Ardi Tefa (6-4, 4 KOs) in a six-round special attraction.
Pinoy Pride 31 will have an interesting fight slated in the undercard, an all-Mexican cruiserweight bout between 47-year-old Jorge Kahwagi (11-0, 11 KOs) and Ramon Alejandro Olivas (13-3, 9 KOs).
In the undercard, Roli Gasca (22-6-1, 6 KOs) takes on Indonesian Rasmanudin (19-9-3, 10 KOs), Vic Saludar (9-1, 7 KOs) slugs it out with Michael Kaibigan (3-2, 2 KOs), 19-year-old Elmo Traya (8-1, 6 KOs) squares off with Bryan Macamay (9-2-2, 5 KOs), unbeaten 18-year-old Virgel Vitor (4-0, 2 KOs) trades leathers with 18-year-old Carlo Demecillo (3-2, 1 KO), and Raul Yu (6-1, 5 KOs) locks horns with Richard Sueno (2-0-1, 1 KO).
