MACAU -- Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes cemented his legacy as one of the greatest fighters to come out of the Philippines by defeating three-division world champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan at the Grand Theater of the plush Wynn Palace Cotai Resort and Casino here on New Year's eve, Dec. 31, a Japanese tradition where many of the Japanese fighters' most important fights take place.
Nietes joins Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire Jr as Filipino fighters to have won world titles in four divisions.
Nietes, longest reigning Filipino world champion and Ring top-ten pound for pound fighter, used his patented craftsmanship to outpoint Ioka over twelve rounds tagging the younger and stronger Japanese with counterpunches when both fighters engages at close range.
Nietes, who is WBO world champion in the minimumweight and junior flyweight, and IBF world champion in flyweight, is back as WBO champion this time in the super flyweight division.
Nietes, 36, appears to not have lost a step and is mandated by the WBO to face the winner of the Aston Palicte vs Jose Martinez title fight eliminator scheduled on Jan. 31 in Alpine, California. Nietes fought Palicte to a draw fighting for the same WBO super flyweight belt last September at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Nietes though is eyeing to face the bigger names in the division including Thai star Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, considered by many as the top dog in the lighter weight divisions.
PHOTOS BY SUMIO YAMADA.
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