PP9 pugs to hold public sparring at SM Bacolod

ALA Gym fighters seeing action in the Pinoy Pride 9 card will conduct a public sparring today at SM City Bacolod to drum up support for the Oct. 8 card to be held at the University of St. La Salle Gym.

The preview will feature Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, a boxer who hails from nearby Murcia who will fight reigning WBO lightflyweight champion, Ramon “Principe” Garcia.

Nietes, a former janitor, made his professional debut in 2003 and has since racked up an impressive 28-1-3 (W-L-D) record. He also successfully defended his crown thrice in enemy territory. Today, he is recognized as one of the Top 5 all-time minimumweight champions in boxing history based on the book by Sugar and Atlas entitled ‘Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists.’

Garcia also boasts of a solid record of 16-2-1 (W-L-D ) with 9 KOs. His 19 fights consist of three successful WBC International defenses and one WBO lightflyweight title defense.

Also seeing action in the card is AJ “Bazooka” Banal, the current WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight titlist who will defend his belt against the undefeated Mario “Maca” Briones, the former WBC FECOMBOX super bantamweight champion.

Bacolod’s own Arthur “El Matador” Villanueva and Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo will also see action in the undercard. The former will battle Tanzanian Shaaban Madilu while the latter will face Rodel Tejares for the OPBF minimumweight championship.

Pinoy Pride 9 is presented by the city government of Bacolod, the provincial government of Negros Occidental, SM City Bacolod, Bacolod Pavilion Hotel, East View Hotel, Bascon Hotel, L’ Fisher Hotel, 888 Chinatown Mall, Skycable, KIA Motors, Palmas del Mar, and the University of St. La Salle Bacolod.  PR with Correspondent Dale Rosal