A fighter who sleeps with a baby python is out to win a world title for the Philippines and hopes to spew the venom of a poisonous snake in becoming the fourth Filipino champion today after Florante Condes, Nonito Donaire and Gerry Pe?alosa.
Bacolod City?s Donnie Nietes, nicknamed ?Ahas,? takes on unbeaten Thai veteran Pornsawan Kratingdaeng-Gym for the vacant WBO minimumweight crown at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug, Cebu, on Sept. 30.
It won?t be easy beating Pornsawan, the reigning Pan-Asia Boxing Association titlist who has turned back 16 challengers, including a slew of Filipinos. The Thai boasts a pristine record of 20-0, with 14 KOs, and is considered a legend in his country.
But Nietes? benefactor Tony Aldeguer, who owns the fabled ALA (for Antonio Lopez Aldeguer) stable of Cebu, said he is optimistic of victory.
?Donnie is like Z Gorres with a punch,? said Aldeguer. ?He?s a boxer puncher and I think he can beat Pornsawan who?s big and strong but is not as skilled. He?s the quiet type, not showy. He reminds me a little of Gerry (Pe?alosa). If he stays focused, he?s got a good chance to become our next world champion.?
Nietes, 25, turned pro in 2003 and has compiled a 21-1-3 record, with 13 KOs. His only loss was a split decision to Angky Angkota in Jakarta three years ago. Nietes is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Saengpetch Sor Sakulphon and Thongthalek Sor Vorasing, both Thais.
A motivation for Nietes is to win for his uncle Dan Nietes, a former Philippine flyweight champion who fought for Aldeguer but never won a world title. Dan, 37, retired in 1995 with a 27-10-3 record, including 17 KOs, then became a trainer for ALA fighters. He now trains fighters in Bacolod.
Nietes will enter the ring to face Pornsawan with a snake wrapped around his body ? something he has done in his last few fights.
Aldeguer has six pythons in his mini-zoo beside the gym where the ALA fighters work out in Cebu. When a python laid 11 eggs a year ago, only one survived to hatch and Nietes took care of it.
?Donnie sleeps with the snake,? said Aldeguer. ?It?s not poisonous. He brings the snake into the ring before he fights as a good luck charm. Once, the snake got loose and gave the fans quite a scare. I love animals and I breed different kinds. Of all my pets, Donnie developed a liking for snakes. That?s why we call him ?Ahas.??
Nietes will need more than a snakebite to bring down Pornsawan whose victims include Filipinos Benjie Sorolla, Jun Arlos, Sonny Boy Jaro, Carlo Besares, Ni?o Suelo, Wendel Cajoles, Fabio Marfa, Golden King Atillo and Sonny Boco. The 29-year-old Thai?s claim to fame was scoring a first round knockout over former IBF minimumweight champion Nico Thomas of Indonesia.
Pornsawan was responsible for sending knockout victim Boco to the hospital in a 2004 bout. Boco underwent an operation to remove a blood clot in the brain after the bout.
?I?ve studied Pornsawan?s style carefully on tape and I think Donnie has what it takes to beat him, either by knockout or on points,? said Aldeguer. ?It will all depend on what Pornsawan brings to the table because he?s a tough customer who has never been beaten.?
Nietes and Pornsawan have fought three common opponents. Indonesia?s Heri Arnol was stopped by Nietes in two and Pornsawan in eight. Nietes drew Besares and Suelo who were both defeated by Pornsawan.
It will be the Thai?s first overseas outing, prompting Aldeguer to describe him as a ?protected? fighter. Pornsawan is taking a big risk in venturing overseas but appears to be confident of repulsing Nietes.
