Considering that Donnie Nietes thoroughly outclassed Aston Palicte in their first meeting and was only robbed of a clear-cut victory by the judges, it is difficult to believe the insinuations that Nietes is scared of Palicte and is trying to avoid a return bout.
The more plausible explanation is that nobody really wants to see a second serving of the fight, and Nietes is looking at more lucrative offers on the table. The beating Nietes administered on Palicte was more methodical than homicidal, and boxing fans are not really anticipating blood in the rematch. The only reason a rematch is shaping up is because the head honchos of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) ordered it, following Palicte?s ascension to the status of mandatory challenger.
Nietes and Palicte first fought for the vacant WBO junior bantamweight crown (115 lbs.) in September with the fight ending in a controversial draw. Everybody thought Nietes won the fight and not surprisingly, he was rewarded with another shot at the vacant crown in December against Japanese Kazuto Ioka. Nietes outclassed Ioka in 12 rounds to finally clinch the WBO plum.
Palicte was pushed to the backburner, but he recently returned to title contention by knocking out Puerto Rican Jose Martinez in a title-elimination match. With the victory, Palicte became the mandatory challenger to Nietes? throne.
A rematch should not really be a problem, but the 36-year-old Nietes is seeking bigger names and paychecks. Specifically, Nietes is looking at a unification showdown with WBA junior bantamweight champ Khalid Yafai (25-0, 15 knockouts), a fight that may be part of the proposed April or May showdown between WBC junior bantamweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and challenger Juan Francisco Estrada. A junior bantamweight title tournament appears to be in the works, what with the possibility of the WBO (Nietes), WBA (Yafai) and WBC (Rungvisai) junior bantamweight champions all seeing action in the same card. If Nietes and Rungvisai prevail, they could end up battling for the unified WBO-WBA-WBC titles.
The unification bout with WBA champ Yafai is the best route for Nietes, but there is the matter of the mandatory defense against Palicte. Palicte has the right to demand a title shot and Nietes? camp is arguably trying to find ways to keep the WBO crown while pursuing unification talks with WBA champ Yafai.
Nietes risks being stripped of his WBO crown if he ignores Palicte. If Nietes loses the WBO belt, the fight with WBA counterpart Yafai loses its market value. This is the dilemma Nietes? camp is trying to solve.
Advertisements
A perusal of the WBO?s rules on mandatory defenses may offer some solution. If Nietes is really bent on unifying the WBO-WBA junior bantamweight strap, he can ask the WBO for an extension of the period for his mandatory defense obligation.
The WBO Championship Committee has the power and authority to sanction a unification bout or participation in a unification tournament as a mandatory title bout (not title defense). This means that if Nietes participates in a unification bout with WBA Yafai, the WBO Championship Committee can approve the same and consider it as a mandatory title bout. Between the No.1 WBO mandatory contender and the counterpart WBA champion, the latter is considered the tougher and more prestigious fight for the incumbent WBO champ. A title unification shown takes precedence over a mandatory title defense.
Nietes can ask the WBO Championship Committee for an extension of the period for his mandatory obligation so he can take on WBA champ Yafai in a unification showdown. As per WBO rules, if Nietes is granted an extension and ends up beating WBA champ Yafai, he must immediately complete his mandatory defense obligation to challenger Palicte. While Palicte waits in the wings, the WBO can perhaps set up a fight for the interim WBO junior bantamweight belt.
If Nietes gets the extension and beats Yafai, he will have the WBO and WBA belts. If Nietes still wants to pursue WBC champ Rungvisai (or Estrada, if the Mexican beats Rungvisai), he can give up the WBO belt and Palicte (should he win the interim crown) may end up being promoted to full-fledged WBO champion.
Nietes can also keep the WBO-WBA belts and seek another extension of his mandatory defense obligation, citing this time his intention to take part in a title tournament. But this may be difficult considering that under WBO rules, a title tournament must involve four world titles (WBO, WBC, WBA and IBF). The proposed title tournament involves only Nietes, WBC champ Rungvisai and WBA champ Yafai. As of press time, IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is not part of the tournament.
Of course, it all boils down to the money on the table. The offer to take on WBA champ Yafai and participate in the title tournament has to be really tempting for Nietes to explore all avenues. If the fight with Yafai falls apart, Nietes can just go ahead with the mandatory defense against Palicte.
