Genesis’s tough test

THE only name that has dented World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes’ remarkable boxing record is that of Angky Angkota.

That same veteran Indonesian pug will once again share the limelight with Nietes, not as his opponent, but rather as a stiff test to the Filipino star’s stable mate Genesis Servania.

“After much thought, even though it is a risk, we decided to get Angky Angkota for Servania. It will also be like a revenge for Servania for Donnie because it was Angkota that gave Donnie his only loss,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

The unbeaten Servania defends his WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight title against Angkota as the co-main event of Nietes’ title defense against WBO mini-flyweight king Moises Fuentes in “Pinoy Pride 18 – World Champion vs. World Champion” on March 2 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City.

The 31-year-old two-time world title challenger gave Nietes his only loss nine years ago, when Nietes was still a promising prospect. He beat Nietes via a split decision in Indonesia.

Angkota, 26-8-1 with 14 knockouts, has also fought but lost to the likes of Mexican stars Jorge Arce and Fernando Montiel and to AJ Banal and Muhammad Rachman.

“It is indeed a risk because Genesis is still young and we know that Angkota is a very dangerous veteran who has fought the best,” said Aldeguer.

“It’s definitely a step up, Angkota almost knocked out Arce and to think it was just last year, so he was still at his peak. It will definitely be an exciting fight and a make or break fight for Genesis if he has what it takes to be the next star of Philippine boxing.”