By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
FILIPINO WORLD BOXING champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes caps off what has been a busy 2018 with another title fight on New Year’s Eve in Macau, China. It is a contest that carries much significance in further solidifying his standing as one of the sport’s best, a local boxing analyst said.
In what would be his third fight in the about-to-end year, 36-year-old Nietes is to take on Japanese Kazuto Ioka on Dec. 31 at the Wynn Palace Cotai in Macau for the vacant World Boxing Organization super flyweight world championship.
The fight is in follow-up to that against Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina in February and compatriot Aston Palicte in September which ended in a seventh-round technical knockout victory and split decision, respectively.
A victory over Mr. Ioka would hand the Negros Occidental native Nietes a fourth division world title, which only a few in boxing had achieved.
For local combat sports analyst Nissi Icasiano, joining an elite group of champion fighters would be huge for Mr. Nietes (41-1-5), who has achieved a lot in an illustrious boxing career but has not been given the due recognition that he deserves.
“Going by the numbers, it is hard to deny the place of Donnie Nietes in Philippine professional boxing history. However, he continues to fight behind the shadows of other Filipino boxing greats such as Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire. The main objective of Donnie Nietes in this fight is to get the world recognition that he truly deserves by becoming a four-division world champion. It is an elite class that counts as members only the best and the brightest like Pacquiao, Donaire, Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Erik Morales, Tommy Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard,” said Mr. Icasiano when asked by BusinessWorld for his thoughts on Mr. Nietes’s upcoming fight.
“Just by looking at Donnie Nietes’ brilliance in the ring and his list of achievements, you will never think twice that he should be on that roster. Of course, there is pressure on the part of Donnie Nietes because his shelf life as a boxer is near expiry, At the age of 36, he knows that the clock is ticking. Aside from that, he is also eager to prove that he should have won the bout against Aston Palicte. In the first place, he wouldn’t be in this position if the judges had it right last September. If he wants to write his name in history books as a four-division world champion, he will have to do it this weekend,” the analyst added.
A professional fighter since 2003, Mr. Nietes has won titles in minimumweight, light flyweight and flyweight while also going undefeated for more than a decade now.
He is looking to continue to roll against Mr. Ioka (23-1), who Mr. Icasiano expects to give the Filipino a tough challenge.
“Like Donnie Nietes, Kazuto Ioka also looks to make history. He unified two world titles at 105 pounds before abdicating his throne to enjoy more success at 108 and 112. He made his debut at 115 pounds and his ring return after a 17-month hiatus on the same card where Nietes fought Palicte. This match was bound to happen, and I can’t blame WBO for denying Palicte’s request of a rematch against Nietes. This fight pack significance for both Nietes and Ioka, with the two fixing their sights on a fourth world title. Skilled boxer-puncher such as Kazuto Ioka will meet an equally talented fighter such as Donnie Nietes,” said Mr. Icasiano of Mr. Ioka and in setting up the fight.
But while Mr. Ioka is not going to be an easy foe for Mr. Nietes, Mr. Icasiano nonetheless believes that the Filipino champion is the more complete fighter which could spell the difference in the title fight.
“It’s intriguing to see this match because both men are virtually identical in terms of size and skill set, and can produce a brilliant display of technical boxing for 12 rounds. But still, Nietes is the more complete boxer between the two fighters,” Mr. Icasiano said.
Those who want to catch the Nietes-Ioka fight commercial-free may do so by subscribing to SKY Sports Pay Per View by calling 418-0000 or visiting mysky.com.ph/boxingppv.