THE fighters in boxing?s smallest weight division rarely get any attention outside of Asia, especially in the lucrative US market, which is centered mostly on the bigger weight divisions.
But with the rise, and eventual fall, of former-pound-for pound king Roman ?Chocolatito? Gonzalez, and HBO Boxing?s push of the ?Superfly? show, which features some of the best in the lower weight classes, that trend in the US market is slowly starting to change.
?Of course, I?m very happy that they have given attention to the fighters in the lower weight divisions. It?s an added inspiration for us now that they have taken notice,? three-division world champion Donnie Nietes told SunStar Cebu.
Nietes has been added to HBO Boxing?s ?Superfly 2? show on Feb. 24 at the Forum in Inglewood, California along with the cream of the crop in the lower weight divisions.
The 35-year-old Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion, defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt against former world champion Juan Carlos Reveco.
The show is headlined by Gonzalez?s tormentor Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, who will be defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight belt against former world titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada. Also featured is super flyweight contest between Carlos Cuadras and McWilliams Arroyo, while Fil-Hawaiian Brian Viloria slugs it out with unbeaten Artem Dalakian for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight belt.
?I?m very happy that I?m fighting again in the US. And I?ll be fighting alongside some of the best super flyweights,? said Nietes.
After two fights in the US, this will be the first time that Nietes will get the exposure that he needs because his fight will be shown to the mainstream American fans in HBO Boxing After Dark.
?I want to show a very impressive performance and impress HBO Boxing because I still want to fight in future Superfly events,? said Nietes, who?s unbeaten in 13 years.
Nietes won his IBF flyweight belt, his third division title, after a unanimous decision win over tough Thai Komgrich Nantapech last year in Cebu City.
?There?s a possibility (on moving up to super flyweight) but I still want to focus in the flyweight division for now,? he said. (EKA)
