ON SEPT. 30, 2007, Donnie Nietes finally became a world champion, beating Pornsawan Porpramook by unanimous decision for the WBO minimumweight title in the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
Seven years and 10 world title fights later, Nietes, 32, will be gunning for history as he tries to break the 47-year-old record of Gabriel Flash Elorde as the longest-reigning Filipino world champion.
Now the WBO light flyweight champion, Nietes will defend his belt on Nov. 15 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino against a still to be determined foe.
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?It means everything to Donnie and to Philippine boxing. He also wanted it in Cebu because this is where he won his first world title in 2007 and now after seven years, he has the chance to break the record of Elorde in the same venue. It?s a dream come true for Donnie and for his fans. We at ALA Promotions will be happy for him if indeed he makes it because he deserves it. He is the epitome of what a fighter should be, very humble and down-to-earth even with his success,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.
After winning the vacant WBO mini-flyweight belt over Porpramook, he became the WBO light flyweight champion after beating Mexican Ramon Garcia-Hirales in 2011.
The 32-year-old former janitor-turned-world champion had the biggest threat of his reign in Moises Fuentes last year, with the fight ending in a majority draw. However, in their rematch last May 10 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Nietes proved that he is the best in the 108-pound division after knocking out Fuentes in nine rounds in what was the best performance of his prolific career.
Nietes is expected to face a top 10-ranked boxer in the WBO.
Mexicans Pedro Guevara, Ganigan Lopez, Garcia-Hirales, Fuentes are ranked No. 1 to No. 4 respectively; Thai Paipharob Kokietgym is fifth; Filipinos Randy Petalcorin and Jonathan Taconing are at sixth and seventh; and Mexicans Raul Garcia, Juan Hernandez and Carlos Velarde are rated eighth, ninth and 10th.
Though the Nietes title defense is a big fight itself, ALA Promotions hopes to add some of the biggest names in the ALA Gym in the 28th installment of the successful Pinoy Pride series dubbed ?History in the Making?.
?We finally decided to hold it Cebu to give tribute to Cebuanos and the Cebu media who were instrumental to the success of Pinoy Pride. It will be a historical event as Donnie tries to break the seven- year reign of Flash Elorde. We are looking to put up a big card for this particular event.
The last time we had a big card like this in Cebu was in 2007 at the Cebu City Sports Center grounds when (Z) Gorres fought (Fernando) Montiel,? said Aldeguer.
The names Aldeguer mentioned were former world title challengers Milan Melindo and AJ Banal, promising unbeaten youngster Albert Pagara and grizzled veteran Jimrex Jaca.
