Nietes retains WBO AsPac crown

ALA Boxing Gym standout Donnie "The Snake" Nietes pulled off a methodical second round knockout of Thai Thongthailek Por Vorasing to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific minimumweight crown the other night at the newly-refurbished Victorias City Coliseum in Negros Occidental.

In a report by Philboxing.com, "Nietes caught Vorasing with a flush right straight to the jaw that sent the hapless Thai to the canvas unconscious for a few minutes. Local medics had to revive Vorasing who finally regained consciousness and get back on his feet."

Referee Tony Pesons officially waved off the bout at the 1:10 mark of round 2.

It was Nietes’ first successful defense of the regional belt he won by flooring Indonesian Heri Amol in the second round on November 24 last year at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Nietes now holds an improved 20-1-3 win-loss-draw record spiked with 11KOs. Vorasing dropped to 3-4 in an unofficial record provided by boxrec.com.

In the supporting main event, another ALA stalwart in Mark Jason Melligen decked Christopher Saluday of Davao City five times en route to a devastating seventh round KO victory to wrest the vacant Philippine super lightweight championship.

Melligen sent the hapless Saluday down at the seat of his pants in rounds one and four and then flattened the Davaoeno thrice in the seventh, prompting referee Teddy Alivio to wave off the bout applying the three-knockdown rule.

The rest of the results saw Reman Salim and Franklin Albia both winning by unanimous decision over Rico Genon and Mario Borres, respectively, Gerald Nietes making an impressive pro debut with a third round stoppage of Tata Galendez and former amateur mainstay Warlito Parenas prevailing by second round TKO over Jerome Bontog.

Also, Gil Melligen defeated Markyll Taroja by unanimous verdict, while Jun Intor scored four-round shutout of Romnick Rapista.

In a special attraction featuring female boxers from Metro Manila, Gretchen Abaniel scored a third round TKO triumph over Jessica Oyang. — EBV