CARSON, California?It’ll be Donnie Nietes’ much-anticipated US debut this Saturday night (Sunday morning RP time), and with a lot of curious eyes focused on him, he wants to flaunt to everyone nothing less than his best.
“I’ll give my very best in this fight. If I have a chance to knock him out then I’ll knock him out,” the 33-year-old Nietes said in yesterday’s final presser at the Carson Civic Center.
Nietes defends his World Boxing Organization (WBO) and lineal The Ring light flyweight belts against Mexican challenger Juan “Pinky” Alejo at the StubHub Center in the main event of ALA Promotions’ and ABS-CBN’s first US show, Pinoy Pride 33 – “Philippines vs. The World”.
Nietes has already fought in US’s neighbor Mexico three times, and won all of them, but this is his first time fighting here.
Though thousands of miles away from Cebu, where he’s based, Nietes feels just right at home because of the warm welcome of the Filipinos living here in California.
“It does not feel like I’m fighting away from home. There are a lot of Filipinos here and it will be to my advantage,” he said.
Despite being a huge underdog, Alejo is optimistic that he’ll score an upset over the king of 108-pounders.
“I’m very motivated. This Saturday, I’m going to go out there and give him a good fight,” said Alejo.
Alejo is rated No. 8 in the WBO light flyweight rankings. He earned his spot by winning 21 straight fights.
“Nietes is a complete fighter. He’s one of the best. In order to move up in the division, I have to face him,” said Alejo.
Nietes is 36-1-4 with 21 knockouts and has beaten the best Mexico has to offer in the past two years – Moises Fuentes and Francisco Rodriguez.
Alejo, on the other hand, is 21-3 with 13 knockouts.
Featured in the undercard are some of ALA Gym’s brightest prospects.
Albert Pagara (24-0, 17 KOs) faces Nicaraguan veteran William Gonzalez (27-5, 23 KOs) for the vacant WBO super bantamweight strap in the show’s main supporting bout.
Brimming with confidence the 21-year-old Albert doesn’t want to run his mouth but rather show it on fight night.
“I won’t say anything. The answer will be seen on top of the ring,” he said.
Gonzalez, who has fought the likes of Joseph Agbeko and Jhonny Gonzalez, wants to reinvigorate his career with a win over a highly-rated undefeated prospect.
“As soon as the bell rings, I’ll work on it. I’ll put up a good fight,”
Mark Magsayo (11-0, 9 KOs) defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Youth super bantamweight strap against fellow unbeaten prospect Yardley Suarez (13-0, 8 KOs).
Jason Pagara (36-2, 22 KOs) trades leathers with Nicaraguan veteran Santos Benavides (27-5-2, 19 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
California-based Cebuano Bruno Escalante (13-1-1, 6 KOs) squares off with Mexican Nestor Ramos (6-2-1, 2 KOs) for six rounds.
