Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has reminded the camp of long-reigning Filipino world champion Donnie Nietes to whip himself into shape in the coming days.
?Freddie told us Brian (Viloria) is looking forward to his sparring with Donnie,? Nietes? trainer, two-time world title challenger Edito Villamor said yesterday from Los Angeles.
Both Nietes and Viloria are scheduled to fight on Oct. 17, Nietes at the StubHub Center in Carson and Viloria over at Madison Square Garden in New York.
At around the same time Nietes makes the eighth defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight crown against Mexican Juan Alejo, Viloria guns for Nicaraguan pound for pound king Roman Gonzalez?s World Boxing Council flyweight championship.
The proposed sparring session had been agreed upon as early as two months back as the two fighters know they?ll benefit from each other.
Nietes arrived in Los Angeles late last week and had already reported for training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood where the Fil-Am Viloria is also working out to get ready for the heavily-favored Gonzalez.
Dubbed Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs The World, the Nietes-Alejo slugfest will have the Pagara brothers ? Jason and Albert?and featherweight prospect Mark Magsayo as top draws.
Nietes, born in Bacolod but based in Cebu, defended his WBO 108-lb title two times this year, beating Mexican rivals.
Aside from the WBO belt, the crafty Nietes also holds The Ring magazine title.
