Long-reigning world champion Donnie Nietes gets the rare opportunity to complete a double kill when he defends the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight title against Raul Garcia of Mexico on May 28 in Bacolod City.
Raul is the twin of Ramon, whom Nietes beat to win the WBO 108-lb crown in 2011.
Since winning the title, Nietes (37-1-4 with 21 KOs) has defended it eight times and this meeting with Raul (38-3-1 with 23 KOs) promises to be a slambang showdown what with the revenge factor in place in the promotion dubbed Pinoy Pride 36: A Legend In The Making.
Both 33 and lefties as well, Nietes and Garcia are made for each other style-wise and the hard-hitting Filipino technician insists that if the usually aggressive Raul decides to engage, the fight won?t go the full route.
ALA Boxing chief Michael Aldeguer has also inserted two other Cebu hotshots in the show: two-time world title challenger Milan Melindo and one-time title contender King Arthur Villanueva.
Melindo meets Javier Mendoza of Mexico while Villanueva faces Juan Jimenez, another Mexican, as an appetizer to the Nietes-Garcia encounter that will be staged at the 8,000-sea St. La Salle Coliseum.
While Raul?s fighting style is almost similar to his brother, Nietes is not taking him lightly.
A battery of sparmates, all southpaws of course, have been lined up to help Nietes get ready, according to trainer Edito ?Ala? Villamor.
