WORLD Boxing Organization mini-flyweight title holder Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes will get a big boost for his coming defense as his training will be supervised by renowned Manny Pacquiao mentor Freddie Roach.
Nietes will make his second title defense against Mexican Erik Ramirez in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Donnie, who will be flying to the US on Feb. 7 along with fellow ALA star AJ ?Bazooka? Banal, will be training in the famed Wild Card Gym and will be assisted by Roach in his two-week stay there.
?We talked with Freddie and he?s willing to help Donnie in his battle plan and correct his mistakes in his preparation for Ramirez. It will be a big help for Donnie,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Roach is no stranger to helping ALA boys as he assisted them in their preparation for the Boxing World Cup in 2007 against team Mexico.
Aside from helping Nietes, Roach will also be honing the skills of Banal, who successfully won his comeback fight against Indonesian champion Nouldy Manakane last Saturday in Bohol.
Nietes will be going to Mexico on Feb. 22 and will be accompanied by fellow ALA boy Banal and his corner men: trainer Edmund Villamor, former ALA Gym trainer Jeremiah Quijano and cutman Dr. Allan Recto.
Aldeguer will also be flying there a week before the fight.
Nietes? camp is prepared for Ramirez as they have been reviewing his previous fights and have already formulized a game plan for him.
?He really comes to fight. He?s more of a brawler,? said Aldeguer of Nietes? adversary. ?We have watched his videos and we?ve prepared a game plan for him.?
Ramirez is the No.2 contender in the WBO mini-flyweight category and is ranked sixth in the World Boxing Council and 11th in the World Boxing Association.
Aldeguer explained that a victory will boost Nietes? boxing career and land him bigger fights in the future.
?We took the fight because Donnie really wanted it. It would be a very dangerous fight, fighting a Mexican in Mexico, but if Donnie wins, it would be very good for his career,? said Aldeguer.
Nietes, who only fought once in 2008, won his first title defense last Aug. 30 when he demolished Nicaraguan warrior Eddy Castro in the second round, while Ramirez won all his four fights last year, with three by knockouts.
