BACOLOD CITY–Despite Donnie Nietes being the challenger, he has a huge edge over World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Ramon Garcia as he is more experienced and has the crowd to back him up on Saturday night in their world title fight in the main event of ?Pinoy Pride 9? at the University of St. La Salle Gym.
But despite the odds, Garcia is unfazed by the 29-year-old former WBO mini-flyweight king and is confident that he will do what nobody has ever done in more than seven years ? beat him.
?Of course I will win because I?m the champion,? said a confident Garcia in the final press conference at the L?Fisher Hotel. ?It will be only the two of us inside the ring and no one else.?
Nietes, 28-1-3 with 16 KOs, is gunning for history with a second division crown. He is hoping to join other Filipino multiple titleholders like pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr., Gerry Pe?alosa, Dodie Boy Pe?alosa and Brian Viloria.
?I will give my best. I won?t promise a knockout but if it comes I?ll knock him out,? said Nietes, who is the only Filipino who has won three world title fights in Mexico against a Mexican.
?I also prepared for a knockout too. I have fought fighters he has fought in the past and beat them. I have fought hard punchers and they weren?t able to knock me out. I have prepared so hard for this fight,? Garcia, 16-2-1 with nine KOs, answered.
Following a lackluster fight with Tyson Cave, AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (25-1-1, 19 KOs) is looking to redeem himself with an all out slugfest with undefeated Mexican prospect Mario Briones (20-0-1, 14 KOs).
