AFTER his call-out of World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight champion Zou Shiming fell on deaf ears, Donnie Nietes? hopes of a third division world title came faster than expected.
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) ordered two-division world champion Donnie Nietes and world-rated Thai Eaktawan Mor Krunthepthonburi to fight for the vacant IBF flyweight title after Johnriel Casimero recently relinquished it.
?Yes we received a letter from the IBF to start negotiations. We still have to talk to Donnie. Whatever he wants we?ll support him,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.
Nietes is ranked third, while Eaktawan is rated fourth.
The 34-year-old former World Boxing Organization (WBO) mini-flyweight and light flyweight titleholder wants the world championship fight to be staged here in the country, specifically in Cebu City, the place where he first became a world champion.
?I want the fight to be here in the Philippines,? he said. ?I hope it will be in Cebu.?
Nietes first became a world champion nine years ago after winning the vacant WBO mini-flyweight belt with a unanimous decision over Pornsawan Porpramook at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
Though the priority is to hold it here in the Philippines, Aldeguer is open to fighting outside the country.
?Yes, we are looking at April in Cebu but we are also open to fight in Thailand or China,? said Aldeguer. ?Yes, it could be (dangerous) but Donnie has fought thrice in Mexico, which is much tougher, and when he was younger, in Indonesia.?
Nietes achieved a feat that no other Filipino has ever done: win three world title fights in Mexico against a Mexican. So fighting in enemy territory isn?t a problem for him.
?I have no problem fighting anywhere,? he said.
The 27-year-old Eaktawan is the IBF Asia flyweight champion. He won his last 15 contests.
Eaktawan is no stranger to fighting in the Philippines. He has fought here twice, once in 2012, coincidentally against Nietes? stablemate Albert Pagara, and the other in 2013 against Froilan Saludar. He lost both fights.
?We won?t take any chances because he, too, is training,? said the former lineal light flyweight champion.
Nietes starts his training after the holidays.
?We have a good chance for the fight to be held here but anything can happen. We will start negotiations after the New Year,? said Aldeguer.
Christmas indeed came early for one of the best fighters from the Philippines.
