The legacy of reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes is on the line as he faces Carlos Velarde in what is said to be, for years, the biggest boxing bout of ALA Promotions. The Pinoy Pride 28- ?History in the Making? will also highlight some of the big names in Ala Gym on Nov.15 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
Nietes is the second longest-reigning Filipino world champion next to the late legendary champion Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde, who was a title-holder for seven years and three months. Nietes is currently a world champion for seven years and one month. A win for Nietes would eclipse Elorde?s record.
?This is the biggest we ever had since the Gorres-Montiel fight last 2007. We want to do this fight in Cebu because Pinoy Pride and Nietes started here,? Ala Promotions President Michael Aldeguer told reporters yesterday during the event?s press launching at Rajah Park Hotel.
The 32-year-old Nietes, who holds a 33-1-4 record with 19 knockouts, will square off with the 23-year-old Velarde, a one-time world title challenger from Sinaloa, Mexico.
Aldeguer, however admitted that they have not signed a contract with Velarde yet, but says it is a done deal.
Velarde has a record of 26-3-1 with 14 knockouts. He once fought Japenese Rio Miyazaki for the World Boxing Association (WBA) mini-flyweight but lost by a fifth-round technical knockout. He is currently rated 10th in the WBO as a light flyweight, ranked sixth in the World Boxing Council (WBC) and 11th in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) as a mini-flyweight. He is also rated 10th in The Ring Magazine mini-flyweight ranking.
Aldeguer said that they are confident that Nietes will break the Elorde?s record.
Nietes has defended his world title nine times from 2007 until this year. He is the only Filipino boxer to successfully defend the tittle three times in Mexican turf?a victory over Erik Ramirez, Manuel Vargas, and Mario Rodriguez.
?Mag prepare mig techniques (against Velarde). Dili lang mag kompiyansa, di lang sad ko magdali sa knockout pud,? Nietes said.
?This guy knows what he was doing. We see he has a dream… He started from a humble beginning as a janitor on the gym. He worked hard as a boxer. We know this moment will happen for him,? Aldeguer said of Nietes? career achievements.
What makes the bout bigger than the previous ones, are the co-main events, which involves top-tier boxers of Ala Boxing Gym, and in the country.
Former world title contender Milan ?EL Metodico? Melindo, who holds a record of 31-1-0 with 12 knockouts, is the co-main event of the fight. He is scheduled to exchange blows with IBF ranked number eight Saul Juarez who have a record of 20-3-0 and 11 knockouts, for the IBF light flyweight title eliminator.
The undefeated 20-year-old Albert ?Prince? Pagara, the current IBF Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight Champion, will take on tough Mexican boxer Raul Hirales 22-3-0 with 11 knockouts for a mandatory title defense.
Also seeing action are the former WBO World minumumweight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo, the former world title contender AJ ?Bazooka? Banal, and Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo.
