DONNIE Nietes is set to once again prove that he?s the world?s best light flyweight when he takes on two-time world champion Raul Garcia next week.
?He?s ready, his condition is 100 percent,? Nietes? coach Edmund Villamor told Sun.Star Cebu.
Nietes defends his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight crown along with his lineal The Ring 108-pound belt against Garcia in the main event of Pinoy Pride 36 – ?A Legend in the Making? on May 28 at the St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.
Nietes is the most dominant fighter in the light flyweight division. He has beaten everybody thrown at him, including the likes of Mexican stars Moises Fuentes and Francisco Rodriguez.
It?s a homecoming for the 34-year-old Nietes, who grew up in the neighboring town of Murcia.
Nietes last saw action in Bacolod City in 2011, when he dethroned then WBO light flyweight champion, Raul?s twin brother, Ramon Garcia.
Villamor believes that Raul, who was in his brother?s corner in 2011, is the better Garcia.
?He?s better and he?s a fighter, he wants to go come in and fight,? said Villamor.
The 33-year-old Raul is a former International Boxing Federation (IBF) and WBO minimumweight titleholder. He has won over the likes of former world title challengers Ronald Barrera, Sammy Gutierrez and Luis dela Rosa.
Raul has an impressive 38-3-1 record with 23 knockouts. All three of his losses are against world champions, two close split decisions against Pedro Guevara and Fuentes and unanimous decision defeat against Nkosinathi Joyi.
?We focused on his speed and footwork so that it will go together with his timing,? said Villamor.
