BACOLOD CITY – Donnie Nietes?s name will now be etched in the history books as one of the best boxers to come out of the Philippines, after becoming a two-division world champion last night in the main event of ?Pinoy Pride 9? at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.
Nietes captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight title after dethroning Mexican Ramon Garcia via unanimous decision.
The 29-year-old hometown hero started out strong and landed the more precise blows early on. However, in the sixth round Garcia started to be aggressive and started to land blows coming off from clinches.
Although Nietes continued to hit with counter punches, the 29-year-old defending champion roughened him up and tired him out in the next few rounds.
Going into the championship rounds, Nietes seemed to have regained his strength with the hometown crowd cheering him on. He took the final two rounds after landing the clearer punches. The judges? scores were 115-113, 118-110, and 117-111, all in favor of Nietes.
However, Nietes?s win was hounded with controversy after Garcia?s team cried foul.
?I respect the Filipinos. I love the culture but the judges did us wrong,? said Garcia?s coach Leo Camacho.
Garcia wants an immediate rematch with Nietes because they believed they were robbed and that Nietes won a hometown decision.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer believes that Nietes clearly won the fight with the first five rounds and the last two going to his ward.
?I think Nietes won it fair and square. He won it seven to five rounds. The judges showed it with their decision,? he said.
