Wednesday, 29 July 2026 · Philippines
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'FAIR BUT FIRM' JOE CORTEZ TO REFEREE NIETES-HIRALES FIGHT; JUDGES FOR THE FIGHT ALSO BARED

Philboxing.com has learned from unimpeachable sources that no less than some of the best names in boxing officiating has been appointed to officiate the much-anticipated October 8 showdown between Mexico's Ramon Garcia Hirales and the Philippines' Donnie Nietes.

The 12-round bout will be for Garcia's WBO light-flyweight title as he defends it against former WBO minimumweight kingpin Nietes who vacated his 105-lb title to move up in weight and challenge Garcia.

The WBO president Paco Valcarcel has appointed as third man on the ring the legendary Joe "Fair But Firm" Cortez, while the three judges are Liza Giampa of Nevada, Carlos Ortiz of New York and lawyer Danrex Tapdasan.

Supervising the championship duel will be WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo, who also supervised the recent Manny Pacquiao-Sugar Shane Mosley tiff, and widely credited for the WBO's meteoric rise and success in the entire Asia region.

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