WORLD Boxing Organization mini-flyweight champion Donnie Nietes got a much-needed help in his training for his third title defense after Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach gave him tips during his first sparring session yesterday at the Wild Card Gym.
?So far Donnie?s doing okay, Edmund told me that Freddie was watching his and AJ?s sparring sessions,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu. ?Donnie did well in sparring and Freddie was giving him instructions.?
Aldeguer was pleased Roach helped out in Nietes? training and believes that will be a huge boost in the 27-year-old ALA boy?s title defense against interim champion Manuel Vargas on July 18 in Mexico.
?It will be a tough fight for Nietes because he will be fighting in Vargas?s hometown. But with the help of Freddie it will give Donnie a boost in confidence,? said Aldeguer.
Aldeguer said Donnie has already adapted to the weather in the US and will also have no problem adjusting in Mexico.
?He?s one of the fighters who have a strong frame of mind. He?s mentally tough. He will be able to adjust right away,? he said.
After working in Mark Jason Melligen?s corner in his fight in Mexico last Sunday ?when the 23-year old ALA boy won by an impressive second-round knockout over Mexican warrior Fabian Luque?Edito Villamor will be flying to the US to help Nietes? training.
Meanwhile, ALA Promotions still doesn?t have any information on the schedule of AJ Banal?s next fight as they haven?t heard from Golden Boy Promotions.
Aldeguer said Golden Boy Promotions? Oscar de la Hoya and Eric Gomez are on a vacation and that he hopes to talk to them soon after they return to the US.
Banal was supposed to fight on July 18 under the Floyd Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez card but it was postponed after Mayweather got injured.
