Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Roach: After Pacquiao, Nietes is RP's Best


PhilBoxing.com


Nietes (L) with Roach.

Two days before he attempts to win his second world boxing title, tiny Donnie Nietes, the former gymnasium janitor who became a world champion, has earned plaudits from Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach, who called him an outstanding technical fighter.

"That small guy, Donnie Nietes, is a very outstanding technical boxer. He does not have much power but he is good," Roach said when I asked him who he thought ranked next to Manny Pacquiao as the best Filipino boxer of the period.

Roach, who does not mince words when it comes to breaking down and dissecting the potentials of boxers, also shared his views about Nonito Donaire, Jr., who surprisingly he did not consider as "next" to Pacquiao, upcoming US-based Filipino junior welterweight Mercito Gesta, Bernabe Concepcion, Rodel Mayol and his latest Filipino protege, featherweight Lorenzo Villanueva.

But his views on these other fighters will have to be reserved for future columns because with his championship bout against World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior flyweight champion Ramon Garcia Hirales set Saturday in Bacolod City, this is Donnie Nietes' week, The Donnie Nietes Show.

Shortly before his favorite student, Manny Pacquiao, sparred with Venezuelan lightweight Jorge Linares at the Coyeesan boxing gymnasium in Baguio City yesterday, I sat with Roach at ringside and tried to pick his brains on what he saw was the future of Philippine boxing after the Pacman.

"Who do you think comes close to Manny Pacquiao or even has the potentials of becoming even just 50 per cent of Manny," I asked Roach yesterday and was surprised that he did not pick the 28-year-old Donaire, ranked as among the best Pound For Pound.

Donnie Nietes, Roach said, is a technically outstanding fighter who displays a variety of punches that shows that he could adjust during fights inside the ring.

"He does not have much power but he is an outstanding technical fighter," he said.

Nietes, 29, indeed does not have much power scoring only 16 knockouts in his 28 professional victories, with one defeat and three draws, for a low 50 per cent knockout percentage.

But the former janitor at the ALA Boxing Gym who mopped the floor while the other name fighters of the Cebu-based boxing promotions company basked in the limelight and enjoyed the promotional support of the outfit could take pride in the fact that he defended the WBO miniflyweight title four times, three of these title defenses held in his opponents' territory, Mexico.

In fact, Nietes' solitary loss was in Jakarta, Indonesia when he suffered a split decision setback against Indon Angky Angkota in 2004.

Nietes' story is boxing's Cinderella tale and a testament to the intense desire of a commercial photographer's son to excel in boxing, training in the gymnasium when the marquee fighters have all but left and rested for the night.

Perhaps, Nietes' vindication is the fact that while he did not enjoy the hype that was showered on his clubmates Boom Boom Bautista, AJ Banal and even Z Gorres, it was the 5' 3" tall Negrense fighter who won for ALA its first world boxing title and may well be on his way to winning a second title in the junior flyweight division.

The WBO Junior Flyweight crown tomorrow may yet prove to be another proof of the taciturn Nietes' excellence as a prizefighter but it may not be as sweet as earning the praise of a boxing trainer considered as the world's best today.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.