It started as a one-sided affair but the challenger hung around long enough to make things interesting. WBO minimumweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes was giving Mario ?Dragoncito? Rodriguez a boxing lesson and a world class beating. But the Mexican challenger was surprisingly tougher than expected and fought through a bloodied nose and a hellish amount of punishment.
Whether it was the heat or just the champion getting tired after pounding Rodriguez with jabs , hooks and uppercuts, Nietes visibly slowed in the later rounds. Rodriguez saw a window of opportunity opening but Nietes exhibited veteran poise and the ring smarts to protect a lead.
The scores of 118-110, 119-109 and 116-112 do not necessarily reflect the intense struggle and courage put on display by both fighters. Both deserve applause for their effort.
This is Nietes? third points win on Mexican soil. Last year, he beat Erik Ramirez by unanimous decision and Manuel Vargas by split decision.
The ALA gym coaching staff also deserve our congratulations. Nietes retains one of the only two legitimate world title belts left in Filipino hands as he underscores the value of his discipline during training and his reliability when it comes to winning on the road.
