DONNIE Nietes settled to a controversial split draw with Aston Palicte in an all-Filipino World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight showdown Sunday morning in the co-main feature at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
One judge saw the 36-year-old Nietes way up ahead with a score of 118-110, while one judge scored it 116-112 in favor of Palicte. The third judge scored it even at 114-114.
The title remains vacant.
Nietes is 41-1-5 with 23 knockouts, while Palicte is 24-2-1 with 20 knockouts.
Cebu boxing patron Antonio Aldeguer felt that Nietes was robbed of a victory.
"Donnie clearly won it. We will have to take it up to the WBO and see what could be done. The scores were ridiculous," he said. (EKA)