BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Donnie Nietes finally got the spectacular hometown title defense he had always wanted as he battered Mexico’s Raul Garcia into submission after 5 rounds at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City, Philippines on Saturday, May 28.
Nietes (38-1-4, 22 knockouts) dropped Garcia (38-4-1, 23 KOs) twice in round 3 and proceeded to pile on more punishment with his precise punches before the corner stopped the fight. It was Nietes’ first fight in his home province of Negros Occidental in 5 years, when he won a close decision against Garcia’s twin brother Ramon in the same building.
Garcia, 33, of La Paz, Mexico had previously held the IBF and WBO strawweight titles, and loses by knockout for the first time in his 12-year career.
Nietes, 34, has now successfully defended his world title 9 times and heads towards a September 24 mandatory defense against Moises Fuentes, whom Nietes has a draw and a seventh round knockout win over in two previous fights. The third Fuentes meeting is slated for the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Villanueva wins in controversial fashion
The bantamweight fight between Arthur Villanueva and Juan Jimenez was shaping up to be a club show classic as Villanueva, fighting in his hometown, was dropped in round two, only to drop his Mexican foe in round 3. It was brought to an abrupt end when an accidental headbutt laid Jimenez out cold for several minutes at 21 seconds of round 4.
Despite video evidennce replaying in the arena showing the head clash, referee Dan Nietes continued counting to 10 and ruled the conclusion a knockout win for Villanueva. This writer showed an official from the Games and Amusement Board a replay of the head clash and stated that Nietes’ 10-count would stand, citing a light jab that grazed Villanueva beforehand as justification.
“We cannot go by that,” the GAB official told this writer after seeing the video.
The 27-year-old Villanueva now moves to 29-1 (15 KOs) and has won two straight since losing a close decision to McJoe Arroyo last year for the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title. Jimenez (22-10, 15 KOs) has now lost 9 times by knockout.
Overweight Melindo struggles
Milan Melindo’s difficulties began on the scales, where he weighed in 4.75 pounds over the contractually agreed upon 110-pound limit, and they continued once the bell rang for his bout against Maximino Flores. Melindo prevailed in the end, winning a unanimous decision in a headbutt-shortened fight by the scores of 69-64, 68-65 and 67-66.
The 69-64 scorecard did not reflect the reality of a close, physical battle which saw the Mexican Flores (19-3, 13 KOs) back up the two-time title challenger Melindo (34-2, 12 KOs) of Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Melindo did his best work with short uppercuts as Flores leaned in, but none of them were strong enough to back Flores up.
The fight came to an abrupt halt after an attacking Flores clashed heads with Melindo, creating a serious cut on his left eye.
Earlier in the night, Kevin Jake Cataraja (4-0, 3 knockouts) of Cebu City, Philippines had little difficulty in dispatching Thai opponent Chatchai Or Benjamas (5-8, 4 KOs), dropping him 3 times before the fight was waved off at :14 of round 4. ? Rappler.com
