Negrense boxer Donnie Nietes is set to defend his World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific title against challenger Tongthailex Por Vorasing of Thailand in a 12-round championship bout at the newly constructed Victorias City Sports Complex in Negros Occidental Saturday.
The 24-year-old Nietes, who hails from Murcia, will defend his crown against Por Vorasing in the minimumweight division.
Nietes, who started boxing at six years old, holds a 19-1-3 record with 10 KOs with his most recent win coming in November against Indonesian Heri Amol of Indonesia for the WBO title.
Known as the “Snakeman” as he trains alongside a 20-foot pet python, Nietes has posted victories over International Boxing Federation rated bet Julius Alcos, Roberto Rubillar, Indonesian champion Martii Poli, Ricardo Albia and Elmer Muyco among others.
The five undercard bouts will also feature other Negrense pugilists including Bacolod City-born Mark Jason Melligen, a silver medalist in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, when he competes in the light welterweight class of the event that is organized by the SGG Sports Promotions and the Victorias local government.
WBO Vice President for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo said the fights will be good because the boxers are in good condition.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani said the international event will be proof that Negrenses can become good boxers and they will try to make it as big as Manny Pacquiao’s fights.
He also called for professionalism among new pugs in the wake of Filipino boxer Lito Sisnorio’s death in Thailand. Other Negrense boxers that will see action in the one-day hostilities are Jun Intor of Mabinay who will face Ricky Sismundo of Cebu City, Bagoe?o Reman Salim against Butuan’s Joel de la Cruz, Gil Melligen of Bacolod against Markyll Taroja of Butuan.
Bacole?o Franklin Albia, who will do battle with Cebu’s Marjo Borres, Cadiz City pug Warlito Parenas against Jerome Bontog of Manadaue City, and Bacolod’s Gerald Nietes versus Tata Gelendez of Butuan City, will also be in the event.* PP
