Ahas due in Bacolod today

CEBU, Philippines - WBO minimumweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes is expected to arrive in his hometown Bacolod City today for the final preparations for his homecoming fight in the main event of “Pinoy Pride 5: Battle of Champions” this April 9 at University of St. La Salle Coliseum.

The ALA Gym stalwart will be fighting for the first time in the junior flyweight division facing tough Mexican brawler Armando Vasquez.

A win for the 28-year-old Nietes would mean a whole lot for he will be challenging the winner of the April 30 fight between Colombian Jesus Geles and Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales for the WBO interim light flyweight title.

   Joining Nietes in Bacolod will be his stablemate and 19-year-old boxing phenom Jason Pagara and PABA Bantamweight Super Champ Roli Gasca who will also share some limelight in the undercard of the ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports boxing event.

Challenging for Pagara’s WBO Youth Junior Welterweight Champion will be African Deo Njiku, while Gasca will slug it out against Thai Ngaotawang Sithsaithong.

Also making his debut fight in the banner of ALA Promotions is undefeated featherweight Lorenzo Villanueva as he faces Indonesian James Mokoginta for the WBO Oriental belt. (FREEMAN)