DONNIE Nietes, who held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) miniflyweight crown for four long years, is perhaps the most underrated and unheralded great Filipino boxing champion of this generation. Humble and unassuming, the 29-year-old Nietes does not have the charisma of Manny Pacquiao, the air and flair of Nonito Donaire, Jr., or the articulateness of Brian Viloria neither did he generate controversies like the alcohol-powered Marvin Sonsona.
But Nietes is a brave and great champion.
Consider this. Ever since winning the WBO title in a fight staged by his patron Don Antonio L. Aldeguer in Cebu City in 2007, Nietes defended his title for four straight times, three of these defenses were in his challengers? territory, Mexico.
There is no other Filipino fighter in the history of the sport who has scored so many successful title defenses in his opponents? territory.
Not even the great Manny Pacquiao.
In fact, looking at the list of fights that the Pacman engaged in, it is easy to conclude that the numbers in his loss column could have doubled had he fought in Mexico.
Easily, Manny could have lost his two fights against Juan Manuel Marquez and his fight against Nedal Hussein had these fights been held in Mexico.
In Mexico, the referee would have conveniently waved off the fight and declared the Pacman badly hurt and unable to continue when he was knocked down by Hussein.
But with the advantage of fighting in his own territory, Pacquiao survived the knockdown and came back in the latter rounds to knockout Hussein.
As for the Marquez fights that ended in a draw and a split decision, the judges would have viewed the fights differently had they been staged in Mexico.
