QUEZON CITY ? Eager to settle his score with Moises Fuentes, World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight Donnie Nietes sees his latest world title defense this Saturday night as a tune-up.
?I consider this as a tune-up fight because I have a rematch with Fuentes. Although it?s a title fight, I feel that it?s a tune up,? a confident Nietes said yesterday.
After settling for a majority draw with the interim WBO 108-pound titleholder Fuentes, Nietes has since been itching for another crack at the young Mexican and prove that he is the better champion.
Nietes (31-1-4, 17 KOs) will face Mexican former world champion Sammy Gutierrez (33-9-2, 23 KOs) in the main event of a rare double world title event ? Pinoy Pride 23? ?Filipinos kontra Latinos? at the Araneta Coliseum.
?My preparation was great. I?m going to knock him out,? said Nietes.
Though Nietes treats this as a tune-up bout, it should be more than that because the 27-year-old Gutierrez is an experienced boxer who has fought some of the best in his division, including Raul Garcia, Omar Ni?o, Nkosinathi Joyi and Julio Cesar Miranda.
?It?s not going to be an easy fight. I have fought so many world champions in the past. I?ll bring the title back to Mexico,? said Gutierrez.
A win by Nietes would book him a rematch with Fuentes next year.
Known for his exciting style, WBO mini-flyweight king Merlito Sabillo (23-0, 12 KOs) is also aiming for an early win against unbeaten interim WBO mini-flyweight titlist Carlos Buitrago (27-0, 16 KOs).
?If an opportunity comes I will go for the knockout,? he said. ?He is a great fighter and a nice guy. I won?t take him lightly. I have trained so hard and I expect to be at my best on fight night.?
The 21-year-old Buitrago, one of the best in the 105-pound division, sees this as a golden opportunity to finally be true world champion and not just an interim champion.
?It?s my most important fight. My advantage over him is that I have trained hard for this fight. I?m used to fighting southpaws and it is easier fighting taller opponents,? he said.
Sabillo snagged the WBO mini flyweight belt just this year with an impressive stoppage win over Luis de la Rosa in Colombia. He defended it last July in Manila with a ninth-round knockout over Jorle Estrada.
Buitrago, in the meantime, became the interim titleholder with a unanimous decision win over Julian Yedras in July.
One-time world title challenger Milan Melindo (29-1, 12 Kos) will defend his WBO International flyweight belt against former World Boxing Association (WBA) light flyweight titleholder Jose Alfredo Rodriguez (29-2, 18 KOs).
Jason Pagara (31-2, 19 KOs) will also be defending his WBO International light welterweight strap against Dominican Vladimir Baez (19-1-2, 17 KOs).
Former world title contender AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (29-2-1, 21 KOs) is also in the blockbuster card against Puerto Rican Lucian Gonzalez (16-7-2, 3 KOs).
Veteran Jimrex Jaca (38-6-3, 21 KOs) is in a keep-busy fight against Indonesian Wellem Reyk (17-7-3, 5 KOs). Jaca wa supposed to fight last month in Australia but that card was cancelled.
A part of the proceeds of the event will be given to ?Sagip Kapamilya? to help the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.
