Nietes writes history in WBO win

The Cebuanos witnessed the coronation of another Filipino world boxing champion on Sunday night at the grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel in Brgy. Lahug when ALA Boxing Gym stalwart Donnie “Ahas” Nietes hammered out a 12-round unanimous decision victory over the previously undefeated Thai KO artist Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym to snatch the WBO minimumweight crown.

So decisive Nietes win was that even Thai judge Sawaeng Taweekoo penned the bout 114-113 for the Bacolod City fighter. Levi Martinez of the United States had it 115-111, while Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines scored it 116-110 for Nietes, who finally gave  ALA big boss Antonio “Bidoy” L. Aldeguer a world title-holder in his stable after three of his comrades faltered this year.

“I’m very happy. But what really makes me happy is that more people are happier than me (because of this world championship victory),” said Aldeguer, who was wrapped with the big hug of his teary-eyed sons Jay, Michael, and Chris in one of the most memorable and sentimental moments in the ALA family.

Aside from fulfilling Aldeguer’s longtime dream, Nietes also became RP’s fourth world champion this year - an unprecedented feat in the country’s boxing history. The others are Florante Condes (IBF minimumweight), Nonito Donaire, Jr. (IBF/IBO flyweight), and Gerry Peñalosa (WBO bantamweight).

“I’m so happy that I was able to give Sir ALA (Aldeguer) a world champion in his stable. He has been there with me along the way and gave me this opportunity. I’m gratified I did not fail him as well as all those who expected me to win,” said Nietes.

Nietes (22-1, 13KOs) looked very sharp in the first four rounds. He rocked Pornsawan (20-1, 15KOs) with a big right hand at the end of the opening session. Midway in round four, Nietes floored the Thai visitor with a right straight to the jaw.

Pornsawan got up nimbly and suprisingly dictated the tempo of the bout until round seven when Nietes toned down offensively and showed signs of exhaustion. “I was really hurt when he hit me in the body in the fourth round that is why I struggled from that point on until round seven,”explained Nietes.

Nietes, however, shot back to life in round eight where he baffled the Thai with his hit-and-run tactic. In tenth round, Pornsawan was deducted a point for low blow. He charged back in the last two rounds, but Nietes deftly parried his attacks.

Nietes’ conquest of Pornsawan served as an icing to the victory cake of the ALA Boys, who completed a 5-0 sweep in the multi-million show bankrolled by SGG Sports Promotions of international promoter Sammy “Don King” Gello-ani.

In the supporting main event, the pride of Corella, Bohol AJ “Bazooka” Banal decked Esau Gaona three times on the way to a devastating first-round knockout win over the Mexican super flyweight to clinch the WBO Youth super flyweight title.

With just a few seconds gone by in the opening bell, Banal flattened Gaona with a right hook-left straight combination. He sank the Mexican into the canvass once again with a right hook and then finished off his hapless foe in just 68 seconds with a solid left straight to the face.

Nietes and Banal were joined in their jubilation by Robert Allanic and Rocky Fuentes.

Allanic stopped In Suk Song of Korea in the 11th round to retain his WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight crown, while Rocky Fuentes kept his Philippine flyweight belt with a hard-earned unanimous decision victory over top contender and former Olympian Danilo Lerio.

James Bacon, on the other hand, survived a flush second-round knockdown and a point deduction in the third to come up with a standing knockout victory over Cagayan de Oro’s Roldan Sayson at 1:27 of the third round.