DONNIE Nietes is at the time of his career when all his fights are crucial to etch his legacy in the sweet science.
To keep his goal of becoming the longest-reigning Filipino world champion, the 31-year-old World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight titleholder has to go through his latest challenger, former interim World Boxing Association (WBA) mini-flyweight titleholder Sammy Gutierrez.
?Donnie has the chance to reach the record of Flash Elorde next year as the longest Filipino reigning world champion the Philippines ever had, he will have to go through this fight, then a rematch with Moises Fuentes in March next year,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.
Nietes, 31-1-4 with 17 knockouts, defends his crown for the third time against WBO No. 14-rated Gutierrez in the co-main event in the double world title showcase of Pinoy Pride XXIII, the ?Filipinos Kontra Latinos? at the Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 30.
Nietes is a year and two months shy of equaling the seven year and three months reign of the late great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.
If he beats Elorde?s record, Nietes will go for another career goal of becoming a three-division world champion.
?He may go up in weight to go for a third world title. We will have to see how he performs on Nov. 30 if he is still comfortable at 108 lbs., there have been talks about his stamina and his trainers believe that it could possibly be his fighting weight at 108,? said Aldeguer.
Veteranv
At 27 years old, Gutierrez, nicknamed Guty, is a true veteran of the sport. He had fought with some of the best, such as Julio Cesar Miranda, Raul Garcia, Nkosinathi Joyi, Omar Ni?o and Juan Palacios.
?It will be a great fight because Sammy Gutierrez is an experienced boxer and he is a Mexican warrior. He is a fighter and he is tough,? said ALA Gym head coach Edito Villamor.
Gutierrez, who turned pro at 17 years old in 2003, is 33-9-2 with 23 knockouts.
Gutierrez captured the interim WBA mini-flyweight belt in 2010 with a third-round stoppage over Luis Carillo. He defended it once against Filipino Trongco in 2011, but lost it in the same year to Palacios. He has been in four world title fights.
?Every fight is important for Donnie as he builds his legacy, with Gutierrez, he is veteran fighter that Donnie can?t overlook,? said Aldeguer.
Other half
The other half of the double world title event features WBO mini-flyweight king Merlito Sabillo (23-0, 12 KOs) defending his belt against interim WBO mini-flyweight champion Carlos Buitrago (27-0, 16 KOs).
The blockbuster boxing show also showcases three other world class Filipino boxers?Milan Melindo (29-1, 12 KOs), AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (29-2-1, 21 KOs) and Jason Pagara (31-2, 19 KOs).
