DONNIE Nietes is now a four-division world champion after a split decision win over Kazuto Ioka at the Wynn Palace Cotai in Macau.
Judges Levi Martinez saw Nietes winning with a lopsided score of 118-110, judge Patricia Morse Jarman had it closer at 116-112 also for Nietes, while judge Samuel Nieto saw it differently with a score of 116-112.
Nietes won his fourth division world title and joined Nonito Donaire Jr. and Manny Pacquiao as the only Filipino boxers to win four divisions or more.
Nietes, who has not been beaten in over 14 years, improved to 42-1-5 with 23 knockouts, while Ioka suffered his second career defeat and dropped to 23-2 with 13 knockouts.
The 36-year-old Nietes joins Pacquiao, Donaire Jr., Vic Saludar, Jerwin Ancajas, Jhack Tepora and Reymart Gaballo as the current world champions from the Philippines. (EKA)