WBO Minimumweight World Champion and Bacolod City?s very own Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes (27(15)-1(0)-3) will be moving up in weight from 105 to 108 pounds. His debut fight at light flyweight will be against Mexican warrior Armando Vasquez (18(4)-5(3)-0). The fight which is a co-production of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports will be held at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod City on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 3 p.m. and will be shown via ABS-CBN on Sunday, April 10 at 10 a.m.
In order to get a clearer picture and the story surrounding this benchmark megafight to be staged in Bacolod, this author caught up with ALA Promotions? very dynamic president Michael Aldeguer.
CYK: Hi, Sir Mike! How?s everything going?
M. Aldeguer: Things are fine, Chito. Just had a meeting with my ALA colleagues. We?re getting busier as the fight approaches.
CYK: First things first, Sir. Why did ALA decide for Donnie to go north at 108 pounds from 105?
M. Aldeguer: First, it was not really the decision of ALA but more of Donnie?s decision to move up in weight. Donnie is 28 years old and has been fighting at 105 lbs for 8 years, more or less. He?s having a hard time making weight and feels that he will be stronger if he moves up. ALA supports that decision and believes he has the chance of becoming a two division world champion.
CYK: What?s in store for Donnie at 108, Sir?
M. Aldeguer: Donnie is currently rated number 2 at 108 by the WBO. During the Donaire-Montiel fight in Vegas, I spoke with WBO President Paco Valcarcel and he told me about the possibility of Donnie fighting the winner of the Jesus Geles-Ramon Garcia-Hirales tussle on April 30, should Nietes win convincingly against Vasquez. Current WBO 108 Champ Giovanni Segura expressed his intention of moving to 112 lbs, thereby vacating the title. Thus, there is a big chance for Donnie to get a crack at the WBO 108 title, hopefully by June or August.
CYK: Ok Sir. Suppose Donnie gets a title at light flyweight, will he stay long at the division and unify the belts or will he move up once again and be a three division world champ by fighting at 112 lbs?
M. Aldeguer: That?s too early to tell, Chito. But Donnie is one of the longest reigning champions at one division, next only to Flash Elorde. He might stay at 108 for some time but we?ll see how things go from there. Donnie has always dreamed about fighting Giovanni Segura and believes he can beat him.
CYK: I agree Sir, Donnie has always expressed his ardent desire of fighting Segura. Well, Segura will be heading north to 112. Does it mean that the Donnie might chase Segura at flyweight?
M. Aldeguer: Yes. We believe that Donnie can safely fight from 108 up to flyweight. He has what it takes to be a three-division world champion.
CYK: Sir, back to the NIETES-VASQUEZ fight, how are we doing with the marketing aspect of the event?
M. Aldeguer: Well, things are doing good and I have seen a lot of enthusiasm from our boxing supporters in Negros. Pinoy Pride has been around for quite a long time and this is the fifth episode of the series. We are doing great with our partnership with ABS-CBN. We intend to bring Pinoy Pride not only within the Philippines but abroad, probably soon in Dubai. We decided to bring Pinoy Pride to Bacolod because Donnie is from Bacolod and he deserves to fight in his own backyard, after successfully defending his title in Mexico three times. He is one of the three remaining Filipino boxing champions that we have, the others being Pacquiao and Donaire. Negros is so lucky to have Donnie and Donnie really belongs to Bacolod. We also want to see how supportive the Negrenses are for Donnie. If we get a great support from the Negrenses and Pinoy Pride 5 becomes a great success, then we might bring Donnie?s World Title Fight at 108 here in Bacolod.
CYK: Then it really depends on how Donnie?s kababayans will show their support for their very own champion on Saturday.
M. Aldeguer: Definitely. People from Negros should be very proud that they have their own world champion. We want to see how jam-packed USLS Coliseum will be on Saturday. If we see an impressive number, then ALA will not hesitate to bring Donnie?s quest for his second title in Bacolod City. I know that Bacolod is not Cebu. Cebu is Asia?s boxing capital. But Cebu does not even have its own world champion right now. Bacolod has! That is why we are expecting so much from the Bacolod fans.
CYK: Sir, any prediction about the fight? I understand you have Pio Solon as Donnie?s conditioning coach. Are we seeing a Nietes KO victory? In what round will Vasquez go down?
M. Aldeguer: It?s really hard to tell. The fighter is a Mexican warrior. Vasquez has nothing to lose and this is his biggest chance to do something great with his career. He will do everything to win this fight. But there?s no doubt that Donnie has the advantage. He is a more seasoned fighter. He is smart, technical and has grown mature as a fighter. With his training and conditioning regimen, I can sense a knock out win for Donnie in the later rounds. Donnie needs to win convincingly in order to make a loud entrance to the light flyweight division.
CYK: Sir Mike, thank you so much for your time and I wish you all the best for Pinoy Pride 5!
M. Aldeguer: Thanks, too, Chito. See you on Saturday!
