Nietes stakes WBO belt vs Salguero

Pasay City— He belongs to an elite group of Filipino boxers who have at least two world titles.

He is the second longest reigning world champion next to the legendary Gabriel “Flash” Elorde” and was chosen as one of the best minimumweight champions of all time by the Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists.

Donnie Nietes already has this glowing resume but his handler, ALA Promotions President/CEO Michael Aldeguer, still sees something missing in his ward. He said the Bacolod City-native boxer still needs to do more before he could put himself in the same breath of the biggest names in boxing.

“He has to come up with a very impressive performance and a convincing win to show that he is ready for the big guns,” said Aldeguer.

Aldeguer will soon find out if Nietes has what it takes to become the next big thing when the prized ALA Gym stalwart stakes his WBO world light flyweight title against the highly regarded Felipe Salguero in tonight’s main event of the Pinoy Pride 14: Night of Champions at the Resorts World’s Newport Art Theater.

“Nietes won his fight against Ramon Hirales Garcia last October but it was not a convincing win. For champions, it’s not just about winning but its how you win fights. He has to make a statement against Salguero, he has to go for the kill, go for a knockout for him to impress the fans,” said Aldeguer.

Aldeguer said an impressive win against Salguero will prove that Nietes is already primed for bigger fights such as a unification match against Roman Gonzales, the defending WBA light flyweight champion.

Nietes (29W-1L-3D-16KOs) has been unbeaten in his last 18 fights but the Mexican Salguero (16W-2L-1D) is also on a tear of his own as he has piled up 16 straight victories since absorbing two straight losses and a draw to start his professional career.

In yesterday’s weigh-in at the Robinson’s Galleria, the two protagonists were on the dot, both tipping the scales at 108 pounds for their 12-round encounter.

In his last outing, Nietes, the former WBO minimumweight champion, needed 12 rounds to score a unanimous win against Garcia.

“I felt the pressure that time. It was not easy fighting in front of my hometown fans,” said Nietes.

Nietes ran out of gas in that fight but he said that won’t happen against Salguero.

ready for long haul

“I’m ready for a long haul. I’ve trained as early as January for this fight. I am very prepared against Salguero,” said Nietes, who defended his WBO minimumweight title four times before relinquishing the crown.

Being a former WBO minimumweight champion and reigning WBO lightflyweight king, Nietes is in the company of an elite group of Filipino boxers who have won at least two division world title. The select group include Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr., Gerry Penalosa, Dodie Boy Penalosa, Luisito Espinosa and Brian Viloria.

But Salguero has other plans against Nietes. As the two fighters posed for photo-ops yesterday, Salguero gestured a slit-throat right in the face of Nietes.

Salguero vows KO

“I came here to knock him out. This will be a big battle and Nietes will be in for a big surprise,” said Salguero.

The slit-throat gesture didn’t faze Nietes.

“Let him talk. We will know who is the better boxer when we meet on top of the ring,” said Nietes.

Salguero is a former WBF world light flyweight champion and is rated no. 7 in the IBF junior light flyweight division.

Co-main event

The co-main event will feature the unbeaten Milan Milendo looking to retain his WBO international flyweight crown against Colombia’s Jesus Gelez.

Melindo (26W-0L-16KOs) weighed 111 pounds, a pound lighter for the weight ceiling. while Gelez (13W-2L-1D) weighed 115.

Gelez opted not to shed the excess weight but will have to wear 10-ounce gloves. Should Gelez win, the title will be declared vacant.

Another ALA Gym fighter will also gun for a big win as Genesis Servania looks to protect his immaculate slate against Mexico’s Genaro Garcia.

Servania, who is unbeaten in 17 fights with five knockouts, will be staking his WBC International silver super-bantamweight title against Garcia, who was supposed to face Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista last March 3 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

It was, however, found out that the Genaro Garcia who arrived in Bohol was not the Genario Garcia that the Ala Promotions contracted to fight Bautista.