Nietes knocks down foe four times Keeps WBO crown by UD win

CEBU, Philippines - In a fine display of punching savvy, ALA Boxing Gym standout Donnie "Ahas" Nietes knocked down Mexican Erik Ramirez four times to hammer out a lopsided unanimous decision victory over 12 heats and retain his WBO minimumweight title yesterday at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico.

ALA Stable chief trainer Edito Villamor relayed via text message that Nietes sent the hapless Ramirez crashing into the canvass in the first, fifth, ninth and 12th round.

There was no doubt why judge Cesar Ramos saw the bout 116-108 and Victor Salomon penned it 115-109 for Nietes. Surprisingly, John Stewart had Nietes winning by only two points in his scorecard, 113-111.

In another text message forwarded by boxing patron Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeguer, ALA Promotions Vice President Dennis Cañete said Nietes fought sensationally and that it took Nietes an hour to leave the ring because of so many adoring Mexican fans who posed for photographs with him.

The 26-year-old Nietes now holds a 24-1-3 win-loss-draw record spiked with 14KOs, while Ramirez slipped to 25-5-1 (19KOs).

It was Nietes' second defense of the WBO belt he strapped on his waist with a unanimous decision win over Thai Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym on September 30, 2007 at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The Bacolod City-native warrior stopped Mexico's Eddy Castro in just two rounds during his previous defense on August 30 last year also at Waterfront Hotel.

Nietes and WBO bantamweight champion Gerry "Fearless" Peñalosa were honored as co-Athletes of the Year during the 27th Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Corporation (SAC-SMC) All-Cebu Sports Awards last February 18 at the Casino Español de Cebu. Both hails from Negros Occidental. – THE FREEMAN