Bacolod City— The crowd will definitely be hostile for Mexico’s Ramon Hirales Garcia when he and Negrense Donnie “Ahas” Nietes trade punches in the Pinoy Pride 9 tomorrow at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum here.
The Mexican boxer, however, isn’t fazed.
“I am prepared for a knockout win,” said Garcia in yesterday’s press conference at the L’ Fisher Hotel. “ It doesn’t matter if this fight is held in Nietes’ hometown because it will be only me and him on top of the ring.”
Garcia, who has a 16-2-1 (win-loss-draw) record with 9 knockouts, said he aims to hit two birds with one stone—defend his WBO lightflyweight crown and prevent Nietes from becoming a two-division world champion.
Aside from shrugging off home court disadvantage, Garcia said adjustment to the weather here won’t be a problem.
“I arrived in the Philippines three weeks ago. I already acclimatized myself. Besides, I am also used to the hot weather condition in Mexico.”
Nietes, the former WBO Minimumweight champion, said playing in front of his hometown fans will be a plus factor.
“It will definitely give me a big boost. I’ll just do my best and if I get the chance to knock him down, I’ll go for it,” said Nietes.
Nietes, ALA Gym’s prized fighter who has a 28-1-3 record with 16 KOs, has proven to be dangerous when fighting in front of his hometown fans. He easily dispatched Mexican Armando Vasquez in the Pinoy Pride 5, which was held at the same venue last April.
Nietes is from Murcia town—about 14 kilometers from Bacolod.
Another intriguing fight is the main undercard that pits AJ “Bazooka” Banal (25W-19KOs-1L-1D) and undefeated Mario Briones (20W-14KOs-1D) of Mexico. Banal stakes his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight crown.
“I know he has the height advantage but that won’t matter inside the ring. I’m intent on beating him to improve my chances of facing Rafael Concepcion,” said Banal.
Banal has been aching for a rematch against Concepcion, whom he lost to via a 10th round knockout in 2008 at the Cebu Coliseum.
“I traveled 44 hours to reach here. I am little bit tired but I have the energy and strength to beat Banal,” warned Briones.
Another attraction will have Prince Albert Pagara and Tanzanian Shaaban Madilu, while Merlito Sabillo of Bacolod City and Tejares Singwancha of Baguio City will fight for the OPBF Minimumweight championship.
The other bouts will have Escalante’s Melvin Gumban against Richard Donaire of General Santos; Mabinay’s Jun Intor versus Gilbert Garciano of General Santos; JP Artieda of Bacolod against Japan’s Kazuya Harada and Cagayan de Oro City’s Reymund Tabogon versus Tagbilaran City’s Lito Dante.
The boxing extravaganza will be showed live via pay-per-view at SM City-Cebu Cinema 7 and on Skycable-Cebu.