FOR successfully defending his crown in enemy territory last Sunday, WBO minimumweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes will receive a plaque of recognition and cash from the Mandaue City government.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes cited Nietes for rising from his humble beginnings as a janitor at the ALA gym to becoming the country?s only second reigning world boxing champion behind the iconic Manny P:acquiao.
Mayor Cortes will hand the awards to Nietes at 6 pm on August 30 in time Mandaue?s Charter Day celebrations. However, Councilor Beethoven Andaya bared that the mayor is still undecided as to the amount to be given to Nietes, who is presently residing in Canduman, Mandaue City.
Nietes? victory last Sunday gave him a spot in Philippine boxing lore as the first Filipino fighter to successfully defend his title three times in Mexico, a country famous for producing world boxing champions. Nietes, 28, is a native of Murcia, Bacolod City who came to Cebu in 2003 looking for a job. He worked at the ALA gym where he learned the basics of the Sweet Science while watching the gym?s more famous wards.
The awardig is set at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
