IT?S back to the lion?s den for World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes.
Nietes, who won his second title defense in Mexico, won?t be making a title defense on home soil as the plan to have his unification bout with Manuel Vargas in the Philippines fell apart.
Instead, Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran will get his wish and the fight will be in Mexico on July 18?the same day fellow ALA boy AJ Banal fights under the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez card.
After a successful double-world championship event in Manila, Bob Arum?s Top Rank Promotions was planning to hold another double-championship bout in the Philippines featuring Nietes and International Boxing Federation light flyweight titlist Brian Viloria in August.
But that is already out of the picture and international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz informed ALA Promotions the fight will be held in Mexico.
?I talked with Sampson over the phone two days ago and he said that the fight will be in Mexico,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Although there?s still no contract and it was just a verbal agreement, Aldeguer said the unification bout will likely take place in Mexico.
?The fight will happen because there is no other date. The venue?s still not specified but we?re going to get the details this week,? he said.
Aldeguer said the possible venue would be Oaxaca, the place where Nietes successfully defended his world title in dominant fashion by winning a unanimous decision over challenger Erik Ramirez last Feb. 28.
The 27-year-old Nietes will be flying to the US this Saturday along with ALA gym trainer Edmund Villamor and Banal.
They will be staying in an apartment two kilometers away from Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Gym, where they will be training for their upcoming bouts.
?Freddie won?t be training Donnie because he is busy with Amir (Khan). But he will give Edmund important inputs that could help Donnie in the fight,? said Aldeguer.
Nietes?s camp has been viewing Vargas?s previous fights and they aren?t taking him lightly.
?It could be a bit tougher than Ramirez because Vargas has fought better fighters,? said Aldeguer.
