NEGROS Occidental — Officials led the people in celebrating the victories of Negrense boxing champions Donnie Nietes and Arthur Villanueva over their Mexican opponents during the ?Pinoy Pride 36: A Legend in the Making? at the St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City Saturday night.
Murcia pride Nietes, whose monicker is ?Ahas,? delivered his greatest performance in front of the hometown crowd to keep the WBO light flyweight belt, forcing Raul ?Rayito? Garcia to quit on his stool at the start of the sixth round in the ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports event.
The win was Nietes?s 10th title defense of the title he won against Raul?s twin brother Ramon, five years ago at the same venue.
?I am thankful to my manager and promoters and to all the people you who came out tonight to watch this fight. Pinaghandaan talaga namin ang laban na ito at nagawa ko?ng i-deliver yung dapat kong gawin. Sa first round pa lang kuha ko na ang laro niya at nung tumama ang mga suntok ko gusto ko na talaga siya patumbahin,? said Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino boxing champion, after the fight.
It was in the third round when Nietes put Garcia down with a left hook to the chin and followed it with a shot to the body.
After the count, Nietes again sent Garcia to the canvas with another body shot but he survived the round by bobbing and weaving away from the punches of Nietes.
Garcia managed to survive the punches of Nietes for the next two rounds but decided he had enough of the Negrense fighter?s punches as he told his corners he would no longer continue the fight, thus yielding a TKO win at the start of the sixth round.
For his part, Bago City?s Villanueva scored a controversial knockout win over Juan Jimenez at the 21-second mark of the fourth round to win the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight title.
2 boxers hailed
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Mara?on Jr. said, ?We are looking forward to have the next Manny Pacquiao from Negros with this feat of Nietes and Villanueva. Congratulations to both of you from the people of Negros.?
The governor added: ?With their twin triumphs, the two boxers proved once again that Negrense athletes, indeed, are a world-class breed. May Nietes and Villanueva inspire upcoming boxers, who will follow their footsteps and continue the winning tradition of homegrown sporting talents in the world stage.?
Second district Board Member Salvador Escalante said the two champions unified the Negrenses after the divisive May 9 elections.
?The politicians had one voice for our provincemates. We united for a common cause in support of our fighters,? he added.
Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella said that Nietes?s record will be hard to duplicate.
?Humble and hardworking, that?s why he?s blessed. True mark of a champion,? the mayor added.
For his part, Bacolod City congressman and mayor-elect Evelio Leonardia said the city ?celebrates the victory of Negros boy Donie Nietes in the hometown ring.?
?Indeed, the victory of Nietes and his distinction as the longest-reigning Filipino world boxing champion is inspiring. It validates the perception that Negros Island is a natural habitat for boxing champions,? Leonardia said, adding that Nietes?s victory will impact on boxing in more ways than one.
Heroes? welcome
Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano said yesterday the municipal government will unveil a statue replica of Nietes on the second week of June to pay tribute to his efforts and accomplishments in boxing.
He added that they will greet Nietes with a hero?s welcome together with the unveiling of his statue.
Nietes?s victory is a great achievement for the Negrenses especially the Murciahanons, the mayor said.
Meanwhile, Bago City Mayor Ramon Torres congratulated Villanueva for his victory and hoped that the boxer will be blessed with more victories in the future.
?(Victories) for his family and career, and for the honor of his city and country in general,? Torres said.
He also said the City Government plans to organize a welcome tribute to Villanueva as he returns home to his birthplace in a still to be finalized date.
A motorcade will usher in Villanueva to Bago, followed by a short program, the mayor said. (With reports from Sunnex)
