Junior flyweight champ Nietes to move up in weight after Velarde defense

Ryan Songalia

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Junior flyweight champ Nietes to move up in weight after Velarde defense
Donnie Nietes aims to move up to the flyweight division in search of bigger fights and greater recognition

MANILA, Philippines – RING magazine/World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior flyweight champion Donnie Nietes says that his next title defense will be his last in that division as he looks 4 pounds north for bigger challenges.

Nietes, who will make the fifth defense of his 108-pound title against Carlos Velarde on Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City on November 15, says he will move up to the flyweight division afterwards in search of his third world title. 

“After this fight I’ll move up in weight; I want to be a champion in 3 divisions,” Nietes (33-1-4, 19 knockouts) of Bacolod City tells Rappler.

Nietes, 32, has quietly remained one of the most consistent fighters in the lower weight classes, winning his first title at 105 pounds in September of 2007 and making 4 defenses before moving up in weight in 2011 to capture his second crown. 

He scored the biggest victory of his career this past May, knocking out former titleholder Moises Fuentes in 9 rounds to win RING’s lineal championship.

(RELATED: ‘Boxing is not forever’ says business-minded champ Nietes)

Nietes recently surpassed Gabriel “Flash” Elorde’s national record for longest consecutive run as a world champion. Elorde reigned as world junior lightweight champion from 1960-1967, losing the title on a majority decision to Yoshiaki Numata in Japan two months shy of the 7-year mark. 

Still, Michael Aldegeur, who promotes Nietes under the ALA Promotions banner, concedes that Nietes’ recognition as a champion hasn’t been fully appreciated by the public. He feels that Nietes can solidify his legacy by fighting more celebrated fighters like 3-division champion Roman Gonzalez (40-0, 34 KOs) of Nicaragua and WBA/WBO flyweight titleholder Juan Estrada (30-2, 22 KOs) of Mexico. 

“Both would be tough fights,” says Aldegeur. “Estrada, he’s a big 112, he’s a taller guy. He’s beaten fighters like Brian Viloria and Milan Melindo. I think he’s the best 112 right now. Roman Gonzalez is someone that Donnie wants to fight, too. Those are the two fighters that we feel Donnie needs to go through to be considered one of the best in the world.”

Nietes must first get past Velarde (26-3-1, 14 KOs) of Culiacan, Mexico is the fifth-ranked contender and has won 3 straight fights since being stopped in 5 rounds by Ryo Miyazaki in a bid for the WBA strawweight title last year.

“It’s a difficult fight but I studied his style. Velarde is a good fighter. He has movement but I’ve prepared for that,” says Nietes.

To prepare, Nietes has been sparring with his stablemates Melindo and Rocky Fuentes, who coincidentally will face Gonzalez on November 22 in Yokohama, Japan.

Milan Melindo lands a right hand on Martin Tecuapetla during his last bout in May. File photo by Denmark Delores

The Nietes-Velarde card will also feature Merlito Sabillo (23-1-1, 12 KOs), who will fight for the first time since losing his WBO strawweight title by tenth round TKO to Francisco Rodriguez Jr, who is also on the card in a separate bout. Sabillo and Rodriguez will face opponents still to be determined.

Former flyweight title challenger Melindo (31-1, 12 KOs) of Cagayan de Oro City will also be in action, stepping down a division to 108 pounds to face Saul Juarez (20-3, 11 KOs) in an IBF elimination bout. With the IBF title currently vacant at junior flyweight, Melindo could fight for the belt in his next bout should he win.

Unbeaten junior featherweight prospect Albert Pagara (21-0, 15 KOs) of Maasin City will face his most experienced opponent to date when he meets Raul Hirales (22-3-1, 11 KOs) in a 12-round bout while crowd favorite AJ Banal will round out the card. – Rappler.com

Ryan Songalia

 

Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to The Ring magazine. He can be reached at ryan.songalia@rappler.com. An archive of his work can be found at ryansongalia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @RyanSongalia.

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