PINOY boxing legend Donnie Nietes had a triumphant ring return at 42 years old with a unanimous decision win over Miller Alapormina in a six-round super bantamweight bout in one of the featured fights of “Ultimate Knockout Challenge: Infinity” on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque City, Metro Manila.
Although 15 years older, Nietes didn’t show any signs of slowing down against the 27-year-old Alapormina.
Nietes was still quick, moved around the ring well and threw precise punch combinations.
After six rounds, all three judges were unison and scored the bout with identical 59-55 scores for Nietes.
Nietes improved to 44-2-6 with 23 knockouts, while Alapormina dropped to 6-5-2 with four knockouts.
“I still got it,” Nietes told SunStar Cebu. “I can still fight for a world title.
Nietes is now with Masayuki Ito’s Treasure Boxing Promotion. He’s yet to formally sign a contract with the Japan-based promotional outfit.
Nietes will now be based in Japan and will be flying there next month.
Nietes will be targeting his fifth division title as he’ll be fighting at the 118-pound division.
“I’ll be fighting at bantamweight,” he said. “I think it will be strategic to target the WBO (World Boxing Organization) belt.”
Nietes is a world champion for the WBO at the minimumweight, light flyweight and super flyweight divisions. He also held the International Boxing Federation flyweight title.
The current WBO bantamweight champion is Yoshiki Takei, who won the belt last year against Jason Moloney.
Because of his inactivity for three years, Nietes is currently unranked by the WBO.
Nietes last fought in 2022 and lost to Kazuto Ioka by unanimous decision in a WBO super flyweight championship bout in Japan.
In the main event of “Ultimate Knockout Challenge: Infinity,” one-time world title challenger Vincent Astrolabio (20-5, 15 KOs) made quick work of Thai veteran Prasitsak Phaprom (41-5-2, 26 KOs) after knocking him out in the opening round. / EKA