World Boxing Organization super champion and reigning world light flyweight titlist Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes is focused on keeping his title against the challenger Mexican Raul Garcia when the two fighters clash Saturday at the St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.
While Garcia hopes to knockout Nietes in five rounds, the reigning champion said he will stick to the game plan and will not take unnecessary risk just to score an early knockout.
Garcia, a former WBO and IBF minimum weight titlist, told local sportswriters on Tuesday that if he can’t knockout Nietes in the early rounds, then he is prepared to go the full 12-round to beat the champion.
He said he came prepared for the fight not only to avenge the loss of his twin brother Ramon to Nietes almost five years ago, but to return triumphant to Mexico.
Equally prepared to defend his turf, Nietes he is now familiar with Garcia’s boxing style after studying the videos of his previous fights.
?While my trainors had been telling me to relax and not to be too eager to knock him out, they also told me never to let my guards down since I am up against a former world champion,? Nietes said in the dialect.
Unlike his October 2011 fight against Ramon Garcia, also at the USLS Coliseum, which left some spectators unconvinced of his win, Nietes said this time he will keep his excitement in check and focus on the fight.
?Back then, I felt the pressure as it was my first title defense for the junior flyweight belt. I was too excited,? he said.
Nietes has matured a lot since that fight and we have prepared well for the fight against Garcia, his trainor Edmund Villamor said.
He assured that all the ALA boxers who will be featured in the Pinoy Pride 36 this Saturday will be delivering a good performance against their respective opponents.
Nietes will be sharing the spotlight with fellow Negrense ?King? Arthur Villanueva, who will face Mexican Juan ?El Penita? Jimenez for the WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight Championship, and Milan Milendo against Maximino Flores.
Also in the undercards are Kevin Jake ?KJ? Cataraja, who will fight against Chatchai Orbenjama of Thailand in the 112 lbs., Jonas ?Zorro? Sultan of Zamboanga del Norte against Rommel Oliveros of Para?aque City in 115 lbs., Raul Yu of Butuan City against Bacole?o Robert Ates, Kenneth Gantallan of Tagbilaran City against Lenmar Prescillas of Mandaue City, and Gerard Suico against Reymund Rama, both from Mandaue.*NAB
