Unlike Pacquiao, the world?s only eight-division champion, Nietes? greatness derives from longevity of supremacy in one weight class?
?Donnie got his nickname ?ahas? when he was a utility boy at the ALA Gym. One of his daily chores was to clean the snake pit with five big pythons and he was the only man with the guts to do it. He was bitten several times. But once he befriended the snakes, he was never bitten again. One day, a snake laid 11 eggs but only one survived. Donnie took care of that snake and he still does to this day. That?s how he got his nickname.??Tony Aldeguer
Filipino Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes displayed his skill and dominance as the world?s number one 108-pound fighter tonight as he retained the WBO light flyweight title by defeating Mexican challenger Francisco ?Titanium? Rodriguez at Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu, Philippines. The official scores were 115-113, 119-109 and 118-110.
Nietes, now 36-1-4, is the longest reigning Filipino world champion having broken the legendary Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde?s record, but relatively few have heard of him outside of Asia. It?s all ?Manny, Manny, Manny,? but this warrior from Negros Occidental has never lost a title fight since beating Pornsawan ?The Tank? Porpramook (20-0) back in September 2007. Before that, ?Ahas? was the WBO Asia Pacific champion. His only loss, a highly controversial one, was in Jakarta to Angky ?Time Bomb? Angkotta (12-2) by SD but the ?Bomb? came in six pounds over the weight limit for the fight that took place way back in 2004.
And unlike the great Pacquiao, the world?s only eight-division champion, Nietes? greatness derives from longevity of supremacy in one weight class.
In 2013, Ahas drew with Moises Fuentes (19-1-1) but then waxed Fuentes in their rematch a year later. His three other draws were prior to 2005.
In a non-title fight against game Mexican Jesus Silvestre in 2010, Nietes was declared winner by TKO when Silvestre stopped to take a drink of water thus adding his name (and his corner) to the list of infamous boxing incidents.
Donnie has been somewhat of an equal opportunity fighter and has fought in Mexico twice, but given the inordinate number of Mexicans he has beaten?including ?Titanium??he could well be called ?The Mexican Assassin.? Conversely, his r?sum? is conspicuous by the absence of Japanese fighters.
Nietes says he plans to have a few more fights before moving up in weight. Perhaps one opponent might be Roman Gonzalez, but I wouldn?t bet on it. Akira Yaegashi and Kazuto Ioka are out there, not to mention streaking Thai Amnat Ruenroeng. Fellow Pinoy Johnriel Casimero poses a threat as does Naoya Inoue, tough Filipino Milan Melinda, and Randy Petacorin. In short, Nietes has plenty to choose from to enhance his reputation.
Donnie Nietes, 33, is a thinking man?s fighter who blends a solid defense with power and skill. He has a high ring IQ and can adjust as needed. While he is not without flaws (including vulnerability to body work), his record speaks for itself. Like A.J. Banal, Sonny Boy Jaro, Denver Cuello, Rey ?The Hammer? Loreto, Rey Bautista, and other gritty Pinoy warriors, Nietes comes to fight.
