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Philippines, 04 May 2024 |
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Can World Lt. Flyweight Champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes Become the Next Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez? By Mike Angel Lopez PhilBoxing.com Fri, 01 Feb 2013  Ricardo 'Finito' Lopez. The nickname of Nietes, ?AHAS? is the tagalog word for SNAKE, in which Nietes has draped around him while entering the squared circle. Nietes is on his 9th year as a pro with a record of 31-1-3 (17KO). Comparing him with the legend from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez, who has amassed an unbelievable, mind blowing undefeated record of 51-0-0 (38KO) in his 16 years and 8 months of illustrious career is not an easy task. The Legend Lopez got his world wide exposure and recognition fighting on six undercard events of another Legend, Julio Ceasar Chavez. The boxing world took notice of this little warrior from Mexico and a legend was born. 
Nietes with his pet snake. Boxing manger/trainer from Chihuahua Mexico Franco Gabaldon was quoted as saying, ?There are two active boxers now that can be compared to Lopez and they are Donnie Nietes and Roman Gonzalez. I was fortunate to see Nietes fight three times in Mexico and the fans loved his style and aggressiveness. To come to Mexico from the Philippines and win three times, that says something about Nietes.? Hermino Ramirez, boxing trainer from Mexico City who has been to the Philippines on three occasions with fighters from Mexico and who holds the privilege of fighting Lopez twice and going 10 rounds on both occasions with the legend Lopez, says ?Nietes is a tough fighter in the lower weight division and is entertaining and explosive and he is on the right track to become great since he is in his prime.? World rated fighter Felipe Salguero who fought Nietes last year in the Pinoy Pride XIV for the WBO World Light Flyweight Championship and went the distance with Nietes was quoted as saying, ?I knew Nietes was going to be tough after I saw him fight in Mexico and then actually being in the same ring with him was really a big test for me and I learned a lot from Nietes, and can he be the next Ricardo Lopez, YES, HE CAN!? 
Nietes will face WBO minimumweight champion Moises Fuentes (pictured above) on Pinoy Price XVIII on March 2 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City. The trainer of Nietes, Edito ?ALA? Villamor who was the pride of ALA Boxing with a record of (29-2-1-26KO) in his boxing days and also had the privilege to fight Ricardo Lopez and lost by 8th round KO as he tried to wrest the WBC minimumweight championship in March of 1996, has this to say, ?Nietes is the second longest reigning champion from the Philippines behind the great Flash Elorde and is a two division world champion. Nietes is a great fighter and we will see what happens in the future, but for now, he is the top light flyweight in the world and nobody can beat him now, as for Lopez, he is a LEGEND!? Lopez is a 2 division world champion and has held his world titles for 11 straight years and with Nietes, he is also a 2 division world champion and has held his titles for 5 ? straight years. There is only one blemish on Nietes record, he lost a split decision to Indonesian Angky Angkotta, which at the time of the weigh in, Angkotta was 6 pounds over the weight limit and many ringside observers in Indonesia felt Nietes was robbed in a hometown decision. 
Nietes (R) poses with the author. The Legend Lopez retired from the sport of boxing at the age of 35. Nietes is 30 yrs old? Many more big fights for the man they compare to the Legend Lopez. Just being compared to the Legend Lopez is a great honor. Maybe one day Nietes can fight on a pay per view undercard of Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Juan Manuel Marquez and even Mayweather so the whole world can witness another great warrior in the lower weight division. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mike Angel Lopez.  |
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