FOUR-DIVISION world champion Donnie Nietes has decided to continue his illustrious boxing career at 38 years old and signed with MTK Global and D4G Promotions.
“I really liked their offer,” Nietes told SunStar Cebu. “They promised to give me my dream fights.”
Nietes earlier said that he’d continue to fight if he got the right offer and that if he got to fight the big names like Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.
“We’re delighted to again be teaming up with our friends at D4G Promotions to work alongside boxing legend Donnie Nietes,” said MTK Global chief strategy officer Paul Gibson. “He’s already had tremendous success in his career having won world titles in four-weight classes and we’re confident of securing some huge fights for him in the always-entertaining super-flyweight division.”
MTK Global last August signed Nietes’ stablemate at the now-defunct ALA Gym, Albert Pagara. MTK Global also promotes the likes of Tyson Fury, Hekkie Budler, Paul Butler, Rocky Fielding, Carl Frampton and Jamel Herring. MTK Global also has close ties with Top Rank Boxing.
“It’s an honor to announce the signing of Donnie Nietes and both us and MTK Global are extremely excited to be working with such a huge talent,” said Ahmed Seddiqi of D4G Promotions. “There are some massive fights out there for him, and we are looking forward to seeing him showcase his skills when he makes his long-awaited return in the near future.”
Nietes will reunite with his coach Edmund Villamor and hopes to fight either in December or early next year, possibly in Dubai.
Nietes last saw action on Dec. 31, 2018. He beat Japanese Kazuto Ioka by split decision for the vacant World Boxing Organization super flyweight belt, his fourth division title.
Nietes decided not to face fellow Filipino Aston Palicte in a rematch and relinquished his belt. He was hoping to earn a fight with the elite of the super flyweight division but never got an offer.
Nietes, who holds the record as the longest reigning Filipino champion, is 42-1-5 with 23 knockouts. (EKA)
