Hometown fight up next for Nietes

LOS ANGELES - Although initial talks are underway for a mouth-watering fight between the undefeated pound-for-pound king Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez of Nicaragua and two-division world champion Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes of Cebu's ALA Boxing Gym, that won't happen anytime soon.

The megabuck showdown looms large in the horizon after the two most exciting fighters in the lower weight division today easily disposed off separate foes in the opposite sides of US mainland.

Here in the West Coast, Nietes retained his WBO and The Ring light flyweight titles with a masterful 12-round demolition of Mexico's Juan 'Pinky' Alejo in the main event of the historic 'Pinoy Pride 33:Philippines vs the World' on Saturday night at the StubHub Center.

Over at the East, Gonzalez kept his WBC flyweight belt with a resounding ninth round TKO victory over Fil-Am Brian Viloria at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael Aldeguer confirmed that there had already been talks regarding a possible superbout between Nietes and Gonzalez.

"Yes, I've already had talks with K2 Promotions, the promoter of Gonzalez, and they are interested in a fight with Nietes. Nietes also wants the fight, and we want the fight," said Aldeguer.

But that match will have to wait as Aldeguer bared that up next for Nietes is a hometown sortie in Bacolod City this coming March in what most likely be the debut of his prized ward under the flyweight (112 lbs.) division.

Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion, hails from Murcia, Negros Occidental, just a few minutes drive from the City of Smiles.

"Nietes has a fight in March next year in Bacolod. He hasn't fought there since 2011. It's gonna be a hometown fight for him. Most likely he's gonna go up in flyweight and we'll see if he's comfortable in that weight class," said Aldeguer.

Nietes last saw action before his hometown fans on October 8, 2011 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod where he pounded out 12-round unanimous decision win over Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales to snatch the WBO light flyweight crown.

As for a lucrative bout with Gonzalez, Aldeguer assured that they will make serious negotiations with Gonzalez's camp as they hope to eventually strike a deal and make the surefire blockbuster fight happen towards the end of 2016.

"Nietes wants a bigger fight and Gonzalez is a great champion. That is one big fight we are really looking at in the future. Hopefully we will be able to do it towards the end of 2016," said Aldeguer. (FREEMAN)