PINOY PRIDE XIV: Nietes retains title
PASAY CITY – WBO jr.flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes of the ALA Gym relied on his vast experience and precision punching to turn back the challenge of Felipe Salguero of Mexico. Nietes wisely picked his spots and scored with his uppercuts and overhand rights. Blood slowly trickled from Salguero’s nose as the rounds progressed.
Salguero kept on pressing the action but he missed more than he landed. In the eighth round, Nietes’ punches inflicted a cut on Salguero’s left eyebrow. Nietes had him groggy several times but could not finish him off. The Bacolod City native has been away from the ring for eight months and this could have affected his timing and blunted his instincts.
But Nietes’ lateral movement and uncanny ability to slip punches made Salguero beat the air.
The judges had it closer at 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112, perhaps giving credit to the Mexican’s toughness and aggressiveness. This was Nietes’ first defense he won last October 2011 against Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales.
Nietes – who is also a former WBO minimumweight world champ – won his seventh fight at the world championship stage.
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.