THREE-DIVISION world champion Donnie Nietes finally gets the exposure that he deserves after being added to the stacked HBO Boxing-televised ?Superfly 2? show next month in California.
?That was really the goal for Nietes over the years, to fight in huge events in the US after he broke the record of Flash Elorde and when he won his third world title,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told SunStar Cebu. ?We promoted Nietes twice in LA and now to be part of the HBO telecast should be a huge boost to his already legendary career.?
The 35-year-old Nietes defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight crown against former world titleholder Juan Carlos Reveco on Feb. 24 at The Forum in Inglewood.
Nietes has already fought twice in the US, both in Califorina. He made his US debut in a Pinoy Pride event at the StubHub Center in Carson City, where he beat Juan Alejo by unanimous decision in a World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight title defense. He returned the following year as a flyweight and beat ex-world champion Edgar Sosa by unanimous decision at the same venue.
But even after both shows, Nietes hasn?t reached the mainstream boxing fans in US. It?ll be different this time.
?Yes, it should be his biggest fight because it?s on a world stage and it?s on HBO,? said Aldeguer.
One of Neites? coaches, Edito Villamor, was elated by the good news.
?We are all very happy. We are also excited because this is Donnie?s biggest challenge that he?s been included in the Superfly 2,? he said.
The blockbuster event is headlined by a title defense of World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai against Mexican star Juan Francisco Estrada.
It also features two other exciting fights in boxing?s smallest weight divisions, a 10-round super flyweight bout between ex-world champion Carlos Cuadras against two-time world title challenger McWilliams Arroyo, and a vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight title fight between Fil-Hawaiian Brian Viloria and unbeaten Artem Dalakian.
Nietes has been one of the best fighters in boxing?s smallest weight divisions. He, however, hasn?t been noticed because of his weight division, which is usually not that marketable in the US market, and that he has been fighting mostly at home. All of that will change, especially if he beats Reveco impressively.
?The plan is to unify the titles at 112 or move up to 115 to fight Chocolatito (Roman Gonzalez) or challenge the winner of Estrada and Rungvisai,? said Aldeguer.
Nietes along with coaches Edito and Edmund Villamor will fly to Los Angeles today and will finish the rest of their training camp at the Wild Card Boxing Gym of Freddie Roach. (EKA)
