Nietes has opponent change, now faces veteran Carrillo

FOUR division world champion Donnie Nietes will take on a much more experienced pug in his upcoming ring return on April 3, 2021 at the Caesar’s Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, UAE.

Instead of unbeaten prospect Orlando Penalba, Nietes is now slated against Colombian Pablo Carrillo for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) International super flyweight strap.

“This will be a better fight because it’s for a belt. I won’t make any adjustments in my training. I’ll continue to do what I’m doing. I’ll make my adjustment on top of the ring. That’s what I usually do in fights,” the 38-year-old Nietes told SunStar Cebu.

Carrillo is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedebol super flyweight titleholder. He has fought elite names like current WBO super flyweight king Kazuto Ioka, Francisco Rodriguez Jr., Luis Concepcion and Ronald Barrera.

Carrillo won his last two fights — a fifth round stoppage of Luis Golindano and a unanimous decision win over Luis Guerrero. He, however, has not fought for close to two years.

Carrillo has a record of 25 wins, seven losses and a draw with 16 wins by knockout.

Nietes is also fighting for the first time since he won the WBO super flyweight belt with a split decision over Ioka on Dec. 31, 2018 at the Cotai Arena in Macau.

Nietes, who owns the record of being the longest reigning Filipino world champion, is looking for an impressive win so that he’ll break into the world rankings of the super flyweight division.

If victorious over Carrillo, Nietes will most likely break into the world rankings of the WBO, wherein Ioka is the current world champion.

“Yes. I would love a rematch (with Ioka),” said Nietes.

Nietes, 42-1-5 with 23 knockouts, is open to fighting any of the world champions in the super flyweight division except for fellow Filipino Jerwin Ancajas, who currently holds the International Boxing Federation super flyweight strap.

At the top of Nietes’ list are World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. (EKA)

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