DONNIE “Ahas” Nietes, famous for his python-bearing ring entrance, is up for a bigger challenge.
Nietes, a 25-year-old boxer from Murcia, Negros Occidental, is eyeing to bring the first-ever fighter to bring the world title to the world famous ALA Gym.
“It is a tough task, but I will be trying my very best to give it to the ALA Gym,” Nietes told Sun.Star-Cebu.
This year, three ALA Boys had failed to capture the elusive world title to Cebu’s foremost boxing patron Antonio Lopez Aldeguer.
Z “The Dream” Gorres was robbed of the WBO super-featherweight title last Feb. 24 here, Czar Amonsot lost a hard-fought unanimous decision last July 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada and Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista succumbed to a humbling first round knockout last Aug. 12 in Sacramento, California.
“After all those frustrations, we believe that Donnie has a very good chance to bring us that elusive world title,” ALA Boys manager Michael Aldeguer said.
“There is not much pressure on him and there is not much expectation from him to deliver. I just hope that he could be the one to first give us the world title,” added the youthful Aldeguer.
ALA Gym had produced so many boxing talents since they started operations in the 80s.
The current ALA Gym chief trainer Edito “ALA” Villamor has fought for the world title twice, Andy Tabanas and Noel Tu?acao—all failed to win the world title.
Although he has all the chances to win, the road to keeping the WBO minimum-weight title is not easy for Nietes since he is up against an undefeated No.3 contender known for powerful punches.
Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym, from Sakaew Province of Thailand, who holds an impeccable 20-0, 15 KOs, is the current Pan-Asian Boxing Association (Paba) minimum-weight champion.
The 29-year-old Thai has been reigning on the WBA affiliated regional belt since November 2001 and has defended the belt successfully 16 times, 10 of which over Pinoys.
One of his victims was Sonny Boco, a promising fighter from the Stonewall Boxing Club in Lilo-an-Cebu, whom Pornsawan sent to early retirement after injuring the Filipino boxer in April 2002.
With his ability and power punches, Pornsawan was kept inside Thailand before promoter Sammy Gello-ani managed to take him out of his comfort zone to fight for the first time outside Thailand.
With his credentials, Pornsawan could be the first Thai fighter to pull a victory in the Philippines.
