WORLD Boxing Organization mini flyweight king Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes will be defending his coveted crown in enemy territory as he will be up against No.2 contender Erik Ramirez in Mexico on Feb. 28.
Despite the daunting prospect of defending his title in the challenger?s backyard, Nietes (21-1-3, 14 KOs) is up for the challenge and is looking forward to his second title defense with the Mexican Ramirez (25-5-1, 19 KOs).
?It?s going to be a tough fighting a Mexican in Mexico. Donnie really wanted the fight. He wants to fight outside the Philippines. It would be a challenge for him,? ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer said in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu.
It will be only the fourth time in the 26-year-old ALA boy?s career that he will be fighting outside the Philippines. His previous overseas fights were all in Indonesia wherein he suffered his lone loss to Indonesian Angky Angkota in 2004 via a split decision.
Aldeguer said that the Nietes-Ramirez fight in Mexico next year is almost a done deal.
?It?s close to a hundred percent. We?re just waiting for the contracts,? told Aldeguer.
ALA Promotions will be planning to send Nietes to the US to train either in Los Angeles or Las Vegas for his upcoming war.
?He has very good training. We?ll be sending him to train in the US hopefully at the Wild Card Gym because we love to train with Freddie (Roach),? said Aldeguer.
Ramirez has won his last five fights, four by knockouts, while Nietes is off from a win in his first title defense when he knocked out Nicaraguan challenger Eddy Castro in the second round last Aug. 30 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
The 26-year-old Mexican is ranked seventh in the World Boxing Council light flyweight and 11th in the World Boxing Association and has fought the likes of WBC titleholder Edgar Sosa, former WBO light flyweight king Nelson Dieppa and former world title contender Lorenzo Trejo.
