PASAY CITY ? Some have criticized World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight king Donnie Nietes for his somewhat subpar performance last year in a world title fight against Mexican world champion Ramon Garcia.
Nietes didn?t look as dominant and at some point in the late rounds, seemed as if he ran out of gas. The 28-year-old Murcia native, however, walked away with the crown after a unanimous decision nod.
This time around, Nietes wants to prove his naysayers wrong with a striking victory in his first world title defense against Mexican challenger Felipe Salguero tonight at the Resorts World Manila.
?I promise to show an impressive performance in this fight,? Nietes said yesterday after the weigh-in.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer feels that at this stage of Nietes? career, he has to score a compelling win to land bigger fights.
?Donnie?s last fight was not that convincing. He has a lot to prove. He has to win convincingly because it is what separates the great ones from the good ones. He knows that to be great, he has to have an electrifying win and make a statement. If he does that, then he is ready for a unification with the big names,? he said.
Nietes, who was named in the Ultimate Book of Boxing as one of the best mini-flyweight fighters in history, is looking at unifying his crown with World Boxing Association light flyweight titleholder Roman Gonzalez.
Despite his relative inexperience, Salguero is confident that he can beat Nietes.
?I?m going to knock him out,? said Salguero, who was so confident that he signaled a cut throat in Nietes? face. ?He?s going to be in for a big surprise. This will be a big battle.?
Nietes has never been knocked out and has only lost once in his career, a close split decision to Angky Angkota over seven years ago. Nietes is 29-1-3 with 16 knockouts.
After dropping his first two fights in 2008, Salguero hasn?t been beaten since and logged a 16-2-1 slate with 11 knockouts.
The blockbuster ?Pinoy Pride XIV ? Night of Champions? is co-headlined by two other huge title fights–unbeaten Milan Melindo (26-0, 10 KOs) against former WBO light flyweight champion Jesus Geles (13-2-1, 5 KOs) for the vacant WBO International flyweight strap and undefeated up-and-comer Genesis Servania (17-0, 5 KOs) against former world title contender Genaro Garcia (38-8, 22 KOs) for the vacant World Boxing Council International Silver super bantamweight belt.
Geles forfeited his chance of winning the regional crown and will also wear heavier 10-ounce gloves after tipping the scales three pounds over the 112-pound limit.
