Respect judges: ALA

IF there should be a rematch between World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and WBO mini-flyweight titleholder Moises Fuentes, it should be on ALA Promotions’ terms.

“Yes. I reviewed the fight twice and Donnie clearly won. I have to talk to the management team of Donnie about the rematch. What I didn’t like was (Marco Antonio) Barrera saying that he would go to the WBO and ask for a rematch and not allow a Filipino judge. Who are they to say that?

We also felt that Donnie won, but we need to respect the judges’ decision. When Donnie fought three times in Mexico, two of his fights in Mexico had Mexican judges, but we never complained. (Danrex) Tapdasan did a good job, same as when Filipino judge Jon Davis scored against (Z) Gorres. I still said he did a good job,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.

The exhilarating fight between Nietes and Fuentes ended in a majority draw. Filipino judge Danrex Tapdasan scored the bout, 115-113, for Nietes, while American judges Adalaide Byrd and Pat Russel saw it as a 114-114 draw.

“The rematch will come on our terms and not for us to be dictated to make the rematch happen. It has to be for the right reasons and not because Barrera or Team Fuentes thought they won. The reason should be that the public wants a rematch because it was an exciting fight,” said the young Cebuano promoter.

Although it was too close to call, Aldeguer felt that Nietes just did enough to walk away with the win. However, he has no complaints on the decision of the judges.

“I didn’t like what he told the media. He knew that Fuentes didn’t do enough to win!

Being the aggressor or throwing a thousand punches doesn’t mean you can win the fight.

You need to connect clear punches and Moises never had a clear punch and never had Donnie groggy. He had some body punches, but it mostly hit the elbows because of Donnie’s superb defensive skills. Boxing is a science where you use your footwork and skills to connect with a clear punch as boxing is not a race as to how many punches you have thrown. Fuentes threw a lot, but missed a lot, too, because Donnie moved and weaved well and showed his fantastic footwork.”

Aldeguer has already planned a rematch between both world champions and is thinking of staging it in a neutral venue.

“If there is a rematch then it should be in the US,” he said. “There is a possibility that the rematch will be the debut show of the Pinoy Pride US tour in San Diego California on June 29 or July at the San Diego Arena—the first event that ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN will do in the US.”