‘Boxing is not forever’ says business-minded champ Nietes

MANILA, Philippines – He maybe an underrated world boxing champion, but he’s only few months away from becoming the longest reigning boxing champion in Philippine history.  

Reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight Donnie “Ahas” Nietes is not only thinking about his boxing career, though. The Bacolod City native puny fighter has also a plan when the time comes when he finally quits in boxing.

Known to be a good business minded person outside the ring, Nietes is investing in different business establishments like rice and feeds store in Bacolod City. He is planning to put his money in other business ventures. 

“Boxing is not forever,” the 31-year-old Nietes (32-1-4, 18 knockouts) tells Rappler. “I have to invest in business and to other useful things because I need to prepare myself when the time comes.” 

Retirement, however, is not on the mind of Nietes yet since he is targeting to break the record of International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Gabriel “Flash” Elorde’s seven-year reign as world junior lightweight champion from 1960 to 1967.

Nietes held the WBO strawweight division from 2007 to 2011 before climbing up to the light flyweight category and defeating Ramon Garcia Hirales of Mexico to capture the WBO junior flyweight crown in 2011.

In 2012, he beat Mexican Felipe Salguero and Thai Danai Meendaeng for his first and second title defense, respectively. 

Nietes managed to escape with a majority draw against Moises Fuentes last March 2013 to keep the title before knocking Mexican Sammy Gutierrez out last November 30 that stretched his two weight division reign to six years and seven months. 

Nietes is now preparing for a rematch against Fuentes in a still undetermined venue most likely in May this year. 

Besides building a successful business, Nietes would also like to develop the next generation of boxing stars.

“I really wanted to train young boxers and lead them to a good life,” said Nietes, who started boxing as an amateur at the early age of 11 in Bacolod City before going professional at the age of 19. 

Nietes, who fights out of the Cebu-based ALA boxing stable, defeated Pornsawan Porpramook of Thailand in 2007 via unanimous decision for the vacant WBO strawweight title. 

“I’m very thankful to Mr. Antonio Aldeguer for supporting me all-throughout my career. Every fight, I always give my best to win for my fellow Filipinos,” said Nietes. – Rappler.com