Nietes goes up to light-fly, duels Mexican

MANILA, Philippines - Donnie “Ahas” Nietes makes his first step towards his goal of becoming a two-division champion when he tests the waters in the light-flyweight division on April 9 against Mexican Armando Vasquez at the St. La Salle gym in Bacolod City.

Nietes, the long-standing WBO minimumweight titlist who’s dead set on moving up to 108 lbs, fights Vasquez in a 10-round non-title bout headlining “Pinoy Pride 5” with a victory setting him up for a possible crack at the WBO’s light-fly crown.

“After four years as minimumweight champion, we’re looking at going up in weight and commencing a quest to be a two-division champion,” Nietes’ manager, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said during yesterday’s PSA Forum.

Nietes has been WBO’s champion in the 105-lb division since 2006, giving him the second longest reign among Pinoys since the legendary Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.

Should Nietes dispose of Vasquez, the Murcia, Negros Occidental-born fighter will earn a crack at the winner of the April 30 interim WBO light-flyweight title fight between champ Jesus Geles of Colombia and Ramon Garcia of Mexico.

“Plano namin ay umakyat ng timbang at maging champion din sa light-flyweight,” said the 28-year-old Nietes, who had made four successful defense of the 105-lb belt.