Nietes to defend WBO title on June 2, in Manila

Negrense boxing champion Donnie Nietes will have his first title defense for his World Boxing Organization jr. flyweight belt on June 2 at either the Resorts World or Araneta Coliseum in Manila.

Michael Aldeguer, president and CEO of the ALA Promotions, told members of the press in Cebu that they are still finalizing the fight card and Nietes’ opponent, who will come from the top 15 fighters of the WBO in the 108-lb division, reports from the wires said.

Nietes earned the respect of the world boxing stage after dethroning former lightflyweight champion Ramon Garcia of Mexico by unanimous decision before a homecrowd at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum, October last year.

The pride of Murcia town and Bacolod City, Nietes said he will continue to give his best in every fight to give pride and honor to his province and be an inspiration to aspiring Negrense boxers.

Aldeguer earlier said ALA Promotions has always believed in Nietes’ potential to be a world champion and they will backed him up in his every fight.

Meanwhile, Aldguer said the continued success of the “Pinoy Pride” boxing series, a joint project of the ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN, prompted them to aim for bigger and better boxing events, starting with the Nietes fight.

”More world title fights and we will try to bring named opponents that fight fans are familiar with. It may not be easy and would cost much, but we owe it to the public for making Pinoy Pride what it is now, and we know the public will be expecting more from ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN,” Aldeguer said.

“We are looking into that direction of promoting more world titles fights in the Philippines,” he added.

Nietes, the only current world champion from ALA Promotions, last fought for over five months ago.

Either Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista or world-rated Milan Melindo is fighting in the co-main event of one of ALA Promotion biggest events this year.

The choice depends on the result of ALA Promotions’ negotiation with the camp of Genaro “Poblanito” Garcia.*with a report from PNA

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2012/April/09/sportnews1.htm