Nietes seeks boost from home fans

BACOLOD ,Philippines  – Donnie Nietes is banking on the support of local boxing fans as he vies for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight title on Saturday against reigning champion Ramon Garcia of Mexico.

The 12-round match will be held at the La Salle Coliseum here, marking the third time that Nietes, 29, is fighting before home fans as he shoots for a second world crown.

Although now based in Cebu under the famed ALA boxing stable, Nietes is a native of Murcia, Negros Occidental.

His two previous fights in Negros took place in 2007 (Thongthailek Sor Tanapinyo) and early April this year (Armando Vazquez), both of which formed part of the 16 knockouts Nietes had in 28 career wins.

“I hope to get support from my provincemates and the entire Filipino people as I bid for another world crown,” said Nietes in Filipino.

To show support to the former WBO minimumweight champion, Team Nietes is asking boxing fans to wear purple and black attire on the night of the fight that serves as the major event of “Pinoy Pride 9” presented by ALA Promotions and giant network ABS-CBN.

Garcia, 29, and holder of 16-2 (win-loss) record, including nine by KOs, is making the first defense of the title belt he won with a fourth round knockout of Jesus Geles last April.

Meanwhile, the boxing promotion supported by L’ Fisher Hotel, Palmas Del Mar Bacolod East View Hotel, SM City Bacolod, Kia Motors and the city and provincial governments of Negros Occidental will be shown on pay-per-view in Cebu via Sky Cable and at the SM Cebu Cinema 1.

Executives of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN finalized a deal with the popular cable giant and the SM City Group to showcase the first world title fight to be held in Bacolod.

“We are glad to announce that boxing fans can view Pinoy Pride 9 exclusively on pay-per-view in Cebu,” said ALA Promotions president and CEO Michael Aldeguer, noting the tremendous demand to air the fight in the Queen City of the South. “This is an initial step to bigger plans to broadcast Pinoy Pride live nationally and internationally in the near future.”

World title prospect AJ “Bazooka” Banal, the reigning WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion, stakes his title against dangerous Mexican Mario Briones in the main undercard of the promotion. Undefeated in 20 pro fights, Briones is expected to arrive in the country today.

Rising sensation Arthur Villanueva, however, had been pulled out in the undercard after suffering a severe hand injury Saturday.

The undefeated hometown bet accidentally sliced his left middle finger while having lunch, cutting a major vein in his left hand that required operation to reconnect the cut vein.