Some eight months after dodging defeat against Mexican Ramon Hirales Garcia, Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes returns to the ring Saturday at Resorts World Manila to make his first defense of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight title (108 pounds) against Mexican Felipe Salguero.
Nietes headlines the fourteenth edition of ABS-CBN?s popular boxing television series Pinoy Pride, but he is not the only local pugilistic talent who is expected to merit attention. In the undercard, unbeaten (26-0, 6 knockouts) Milan ?El Metodico? Melindo of Cagayan de Oro City takes on Colombian Jesus Geles (13-2, 5 knockouts) for the WBO International flyweight (112 pounds) title while another undefeated prospect, Bacolod City?s Genesis Servania (17-0, 5 knockouts), guns for the World Boxing Council Silver super bantamweight crown (122 pounds) opposite Mexican veteran Genaro ?Poblanito? Garcia (38-8, 22 knockouts).
Nietes, 29-1 with 14 knockouts, went through the grinder in winning the WBO light flyweight title over Hirales. He bled from a cut and nearly faded down the stretch. Nietes is expected to have a much easier time against the relatively inexperienced Salguero (16-2, 11 knockouts). Salguero turned pro in 2008 and lost his first two fights. He has not lost a fight since, but the quality of his opposition leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Salguero?s last three foes had a combined win-loss record of 28-16. Hector Moreno, with zero pro experience, predictably went to sleep in just two rounds against Salguero in June 2011. Salguero fought just once last year and is making only his second ring appearance this year.
The Melindo-Geles, Servania-Garcia bouts figure to be the most intriguing. The 24-year-old Melindo is on a roll, winning his last three fights within the distance. Geles, nicknamed ?El Cuchilla? (The Knife), captured the WBO interim light flyweight diadem with a decision over Omar Soto in October 2010 and successfully defended it with a hard-earned split decision win over Hirales in February 2011. Geles, 24, is a lanky boxer with a decent jab. He was stopped in five rounds by Hirales in their rematch on April 30, 2011, but many attributed Geles? anemic performance to the weight problems he experienced at light flyweight. He is now a full-fledged flyweight and is looking to get back in the groove with a win over Melindo.
Servania, nicknamed ?Azukal,? is facing the toughest test of his young career in Garcia. The 20-year-old Servania turned pro in 2009 and turned heads last December when he outpointed the previously undefeated Mike Cardenas of Mexico. Servania is a patient, judicious counterpuncher who owns a decent right straight and a powerful left hook which he used to floor Cardenas twice.
Garcia became a controversial figure after a namesake claiming to be him showed up in Bohol in March and was cannibalized in two rounds by Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista. Garcia agreed to finally show up in our shores to prove that nothing beats the original. The real Garcia offers a wealth of experience, having rubbed mitts with former world champions Hosumi Hasegawa, Luis Alberto Perez, Toshiaki Nishioka and Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr.
Garcia battled Nishioka for the WBC super bantamweight strap in January 2009 and fought his heart out before capitulating in the 12th and final round. After losing to Vazquez by seventh round knockout in November 2009, Garcia went inactive for the next two years. He did not lace on the gloves until January 12, when he stopped Jesus Santillan in two rounds. Taking into account Garcia?s age (34) and the fact that he is barely removed from a two-year hiatus, Servania?s chances are very good. Garcia is still oozing with confidence, though, harking that Servania?s has not faced a pressure fighter like him.
Whichever way you put it, Pinoy Pride XIV has all the trimmings of a slam-bang card. You don?t want to miss this one.
