THE world title fight between World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight titleholder Donnie Nietes and interim champion Manuel Vargas has been moved to a later date because of an undisclosed reason.
The Nietes and Vargas world title tussle was originally set to take place on July 18 in Mexico but was postponed to Aug. 1.
This is the second snag to hit Nietes’s third title defense.
After the A (H1N1) virus hit Mexico, the fight, originally scheduled on May 16, was moved to a later date for a possible US venue before getting a July 18 playdate back in Mexico.
According to ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, who handles Nietes, he was informed of the move by international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz.
Lewkowicz told Aldeguer yesterday the fight was transferred to a later date but the matchmaker didn’t state the reason behind the move of promoter Fernando Beltran.
Aldeguer informed Nietes—who is currently training at the Wild Card Gym—and ALA Gym trainers Edito and Edmund Villamor to alter their training program and factor in the extra two weeks.
“I told Donnie to focus. We still don’t know the real reason why it got postponed,” Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview.
Nietes had already tapered down in his sparring and is trimming down to just four to six rounds.
However, because of the recent adjustment of the fight date, they have to modify it back to six to eight rounds of sparring.
“I hope it won’t affect his performance because it already affected his training,” he said.
The 27-year-old Bacolod-born fighter is trying to score a second straight impressive win in Mexico.
He won by unanimous decision over challenger Erik Ramirez, who was sent to the canvas four times in his title defense last February.
Nietes’s close friend and fellow stable mate, AJ Banal, is also scheduled to fight in the card. He is set for a six-round bout against an unnamed opponent.
This fight will be in preparation for the 20-year-old Banal’s bigger fight in the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez clash on Sept. 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
