Donnie Nietes, one of the world?s longest reigning champions, is in the thick of training for the eight defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight title set Oct. 17 in Carson, California.
Michael Aldeguer, whose ALA Boxing is staging Nietes? showdown with Juan Alejo of Mexico at the StubHub Center, told Bulletin-Tempo that his No. 1 fighter opted to delay his trip to the US ?as he doesn?t want to disrupt his preparations.?
Nietes was set to leave for Los Angeles on Thursday night after being granted his US visa but his team decided to add a few more days to the training camp in Cebu because of the lack of sparring partners at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollwyood.
Nietes was supposed to engage Fil-Am Brian Viloria, who is also booked to appear in a crucial title challenge also on Oct. 17 at New York?s Madison Square Garden.
Apart from Viloria, there are limited sparmates available in Los Angeles, noted Aldeguer, whose promotion in Carson is dubbed Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs The World.
?Here in Cebu, there are lots of sparring partners available so by the time Donnie arrives in the US, he?d be close to the tapering off stage,? added Aldeguer.
The Nietes-Alejo encounter is the main event but Aldeguer is also showcasing the fighting Pagara brothers ? super-lightweight Jason and super-bantam Prince Albert ? and feather prospect Mark Magsayo.
ALA Boxing is teaming up with ABS-CBN and its umbrella organization TFC in holding Pinoy Pride 33 in the US for the first time after doing two successful shows in Dubai, the most recent held only last month.
