ALA Promotions president and CEO Michael Aldeguer on Saturday said that reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes will have a chance for another hometown fight sometime in July or August this year.
Aldeguer?s decision was based not only with Nietes performance but on the Negrense?s acceptance of the Pinoy Pride 5: Battle of Champions last Saturday at the University of St. La Salle coliseum.
?Though the schedule of the fight coincided with the highlight of the Panaad Festival, the Negrenses have shown strong support for our fighters. Though I can?t promise 100% that Nietes?s July fight will be staged here in Bacolod, there is an 80% probability that we may bring the title match here,? the promoter said.
Nietes, who won over Mexican Armando Vasquez with a first round knockout on weekend?s main event, stressed that he was very happy to hear that finally he will get a title fight in his hometown.
?I am very glad that my fellow Negrenses showed their support during my last fight. And on my next battle in July or August for another world title bid, I assure my fans that I won?t fail you,? the champion said.
The Murcia-native champion had shaky moments in the early minute of the first round after missing few of his punches on Vasquez. But an opportunity came when he cornered the Mexican and landed a right hook that sent Vasquez down to the canvas.
Referee Bruce McTavish begun the 10-count but, despite Vasquez? valiant efforts to get up, he could not even get on his feet. And when the counting expired, Mctavish signaled the stoppage of the fight at 2:26 of the first round.
Nietes?s victory in the Pinoy Pride 5: Battle of Champions gave the Negrense champion the chance to challenge the winner between Jesus Geles and Ramon Garcia Hirales for the WBO interim light flyweight title on April 30 in Mexico.
In the other fights, WBO Asia Pacific Junior Welterweight champion Jason Pagara successfully defended his belt after knocking down Deo Njiku of Tanzania in the second round while Pan Asia Boxing Association Bantamweight champion Roli Gasca threw combinations, forcing Ngaotawang Sithsaithong of Thailand to kiss the canvas twice in the third round and obliged the referee to waive off the battle at 2:17 of the 3rd.
On the other hand WBO Oriental champion Lorenzo Villanueva improved his record to 20 wins with 19 KOs after a 5th round devastation of Indonesian contender James Mokoginta.
According to Indonesian coach Falazona Fidal, Villanueva is too strong for his boxer who is only 19 years old. He stressed that they will train harder so that they will be ready the next time they will be given the chance to have a rematch with Villanueva.
Meanwhile, ALA Promotions commended the police personnel of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Station 4 for apprehending and putting behind bars two unidentified suspected scalpers. These scalpers are those who buy and replicate tickets for the fight.
According to ALA?s Gerry Bandalan, BCPO Station 4 police officers ran after the two suspects who tried to escape by riding a public utility jeepney after the authorities confronted them for selling fake tickets of the Nietes-Vasquez fight.
The Pinoy Pride 5: Battle of Champions was presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, supported by the Bacolod City Government and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on April 11, 2011.
