DESPITE the adjustment of the fight date that jeopardized his training program, World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight champion Donnie Nietes is still focused on retaining his title against interim titlist Manuel Vargas on Aug. 1 in Mexico.
Nietes, who is training at the Wild Card Gym, is still focused on the fight at hand despite having to adjust for two more weeks.
His fight was originally scheduled on July 18 but was moved to Aug. 1.
“When I talked with Donnie, he told me that he was focused and that he was going to win the fight,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview yesterday. “My father (Antonio L. Aldeguer) and I always tell him to just focus on your training and focus on Vargas and nothing else.”
Nietes is 24-1-3 with 14 KOs, while Vargas is 26-3-1 with 11 KOs.
This is Nietes’s third title defense, and his second straight in Mexico.
In his last fight in Mexico, Nietes also experienced problems that delayed their arrival in Oaxaca. However, he was unfazed and finished with an impressive performance, defeating challenger Erik Ramirez by unanimous decision. He also knocked down Ramirez four times.
Focused
“He’s focused and he’s mentally tough. He’s one of the very mature fighters in the gym,” said Aldeguer.
Aldeguer said the adjustment in the training regimen is going well and Nietes is now sparring six rounds in the gym.
On the other hand, AJ Banal will also be seeing action in the undercard. He will be fighting in a six-round tune-up bout against an unnamed opponent.
However, despite of it being a tune-up fight, Aldeguer said they aren’t taking it lightly because if Banal suffers an injury, it could jeopardize a possible slot in the upcoming Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez blockbuster showdown on Sept. 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“We’re taking the opponent seriously. We won’t take him for granted. We’re not taking it as a tune-up fight,” Aldeguer said. “It’s very difficult because the opponent hasn’t been named.”
“If the Sept. 19 fight will push through then he will be in a big fight against a high-caliber opponent,” he said.
