YESTERDAY, Donnie Nietes (41-1, 23KOs) the reigning IBF world champion at the flyweight division announced before the assembled Cebu sports media that he was vacating the belt as he was moving up north to the 115 lb. division in search of his 4th title in as many divisions.
All I can say is bravo for Donnie for stepping up to the plate and with impeccable timing too.
SUPERFLY. The champions waiting for him at the superflyweight division are Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (45-4, 40KOs) who holds the WBC belt; Naoya Inoue (15-0, 13KOs) who is the WBO champion and our very own Jerwin Ancajas (29-1, 20KOs) who holds the IBF diadem.
Of course, who can forget Juan Francisco Estrada (36-3, 25KOs) and Roman Gonzalez (46-2, 38KOs), two formidable powerhouses and former world champions who also currently reside in this talent-rich division.
As it stands now, the 115-lb. division is one of the deepest in boxing if not the deepest. It is steeped in talent already and the addition of Nietes will only make this division more competitive.
OPPONENT. “Ahas” openly declared that he wanted to avoid fighting a fellow Pinoy so for now, Ancajas may not be in his sights.
Incidentally, Ancajas is set to duke it out with another Pinoy next month in Jonas Sultan who happens to be Donnie’s stablemate.
Despite what Donnie stated, if ever “Zorro” loses and the opportunity presents itself, an intriguing back-story would be the revenge angle for ALA boxing stable, and so you can never really tell.
Personally, I would prefer Donnie to go after Rungvisai who is The Ring Magazine champion in this division. The Thai recently defeated Roman Gonzalez in a rematch and is presently the hottest fighter in this division.
I think Nietes has a speed advantage over the power-punching Thai and I see a beautiful classic about to unfold should these two clash.
Donnie confessed that he preferred to fight “Chocolatito” but I think the latter is a faded light and could act as a spoiler for Donnie’s ambition. A defeat to the past-his-prime Gonzalez could potentially be ruinous.
Whoever Donnie chooses to fight, he is here to stay in the superflyweight division and this is probably his last stop, at age 35.
He certainly will be no mere interloper.
VERBATIM. “I think you do have to blame some of the media for blowing the dude’s head up, and he just feel like his (expletive) don’t stink,” -UFC lightweight fighter Kevin Lee on Conor McGregor (www.MMAjunkie.com)
LAST ROUND. It’s on a fellow sportswriter and one of the nicest persons I know, John Pages who recently celebrated his birthday. Cheers!