Bacolod City – Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes (27W-1L-3D, 15 KO?s) of Negros Occidental and the ALA Gym of Cebu met and sized up his opponent Armando Vasquez (18W-5L, 4 KO?s) of Mexico during the final press conference held at the Palmas Del Mar Resort Hotel in Bacolod. Nietes renewed his vow for a spectacular victory before his hometown fans. ?I will stop Vasquez in seven to eight rounds. I don?t see any problems with this fight. I have prepared well and I am happy to be fighting in my hometown.?
Nietes, who has made four successful defences of his WBO minimumweight title, three of which were fought on Mexican soil, will move up one division higher in search for a second world title. He is eying the winner of the WBO interim light flyweight title bout between Jesus Geles and Ramon Garcia Hirales this April 30 in Mexico City. But he must get past Vasquez. ?He can talk all he wants,? Vasquez said, ?I know that this is not my hometown. But I feel like it is. I feel good. Everyone in Mexico knows him. I prepared well for this bout.?
Vasquez is fluent in English which he learned while living in California. He also said that he got the ring moniker Chiquita because of his small stature.Both boxers already have plans of going into business after their careers are over but Nietes also wants to be a trainer. Vasquez was accompanied by trainer Cesar Yanez Ferrat while trainer Edmund Villamor complemented Nietes. ?Donnie is well disciplined and has an excellent work ethic during training.? Villamor said.
ALA Promotions Pres. Michael Aldeguer and GAB chairman Ramon Guanzon also attended the press conference. They invited the people of Bacolod and the tourists who are here for the Panaad festival to attend the fight this Saturday at the La Salle Gym. ?We need to support this fight so that ALA Promotions will come back here and have another big card.? Chairman Guanzon said. It?s been three years since Nietes fought in his home island; a second round knockout win against Thongthailek Sor Tanapiyo of Thailand in Victorias City.
The boxers will have their official weigh-in on Friday and fight time this Saturday starts at 3 PM. ABS-CBN will air the fights Sunday morning.
Top photo: WBO champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes (2nd from left) and Armando Vasquez of Mexico (2nd from right) pose with ALA President Michael Aldeguer and Philippine Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Ramon Guanzon during the final press conference of ‘Pinoy Pride 5’ at the Palmas del Mar Resort in Bacolod City Thursday afternoon. Photo by Dong Secuya.
