Indon pug arrives for Nietes bout

Indonesian warrior Heri Amol arrived in Cebu yesterday and is ready to rumble against ALA Stable standout Donnie "The Snakeman" Nietes tomorrow night for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific minimumweight title at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

"Filipino boxing aficionados have seen the best of the Indonesian fighters with the likes of Butar-Butar, Ali Rochmad and Angky Angkota and Heri Amol share the same credential. Nietes will surely be in a tough fight," said event promoter Sammy Gello-ani.

Nietes and Amol are expected to trade barbs as they meet face-to-face for the first time today at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel for the official weigh-in and final news conference of their keenly-awaited title clash also supported by Sugbahan Food Corner, Mango Park Hotel, and Marco Polo Plaza Hotel (formerly Cebu Plaza).

This marks for the first time that a weigh-in of a boxing event in Cebu will be held inside a swanky hotel since the "Boxing at the Ballroom" days at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel five years ago.

Presented by SGG Sports Promotions in partnership with Tanduay and Solar Sports, the action-packed slugfest will be televised by Solar Sports as part of its "Stars of the Future" boxing series.

The other ALA fighters who have already been featured in the show include Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, Z "The Dream" Gorres and Alex John "Bazooka" Banal.

Aside from Nietes and Amol, also set to grace today's affair are the youthful ALA ring stars Milan "CDO Bonito" Milendo (7-0, 2KOs) and Along "Boholano Bulldog" Denoy (11-6, 5KOs), who will slug it out against separate foes in a pair of 10-rounder matches.

Milendo, who wowed boxing fanatics with his splendid third round knockout of Ricardo Albia last October 21 in Mandaue, tangles with Rommel Bongon of Tisajo Stable of Manila, while Denoy battles against Aljun Salogaol of Cebu's Jaca Stable.

A special attraction pits ALA's newest kid on the block Joseph Omanz against Rey Las Piñas of Butuan City.

The rest of the equally-exciting undercards feature Leon Maratas vs. Lotlot Gaviola, Jessie Albaracin vs. Edmund Velayo, Nic Banal vs. Brix "Bomb" Ray, Weng Haya vs. Alfredo Balabat, and Franklin Albia vs. Romano Gelig.

Tickets are now on sale at the ALA Fight Club in Banilad Town Center and at the USA Sports outlets in Ayala and SM. Tickets are reasonably priced at P100 for general admission, P200 for lower seat, P300 for ringside, and P500 for VIP/Sponsor.