Nietes decisions Mexican

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – With rubbery legs and a big fighting heart, Donnie Nietes snatched the WBO junior-flyweight crown from Mexican Ramon Garcia Saturday night at the St. La Salle Coliseum here.

The final verdict: a unanimous decision. Filipino judge Danrex Tapdasan had it 115-113 while Liza Giampa of Las Vegas had it 118-110 and New York’s Carlos Ortiz 117-111 – all for Nietes

While Tapdasan scored it as he saw it, the two other judges probably watched a different fight and made it look so easy for the Filipino, now a champion in two different weight classes.

Many felt the fight could have ended in a draw, and there were those who thought Nietes deserved no more than a razor-thin decision. The fight was definitely closer than the way it was scored.

When Nietes’ name was declared as “the new” world champion in the 108 lb class, the Mexicans looked stunned, and demanded a rematch even before they got off the ring.

“We were robbed. It was a total steal,” said Garcia’s trainer, Leo Camacho, inside the dressing room.

Garcia sat on a leather couch and listened, covering his face with his hands in disbelief over what happened. Camacho said his fighter deserves a rematch.

“The judges were impartial. We knew they were going to steal it from us. Ramon always looked for the knockout and Nietes kept running all around and kept on holding.

“When the challenger does that it’s difficult to give him a unanimous decision. We want a rematch and we can do it here again but with different judges. Crazy,” he added.

Garcia, who flew to the country for his first title defense, said he knew he hurt Nietes many times, from the sixth until the 10th rounds. He also said Nietes never hurt him.

“Did I hurt him? Of course,” said Garcia through an interpreter.

Nietes, who held on to the WBO minimumweight crown for three years before moving up, said the judges were right in giving him the unanimous victory.

“The judges were fair,” said Nietes.

His promoter, Michael Aldeguer of ALA Promotions, felt the same way, too.

“Four or five (rounds) you can give it to the Mexican, but seven rounds went to Nietes,” he was quoted as saying.

Regarding the rematch, the elder Aldeguer, Tony, said it might not come as soon as what the Mexicans are hoping for.

“Yes, we’re open to it. But a rematch is not allowed by all boxing bodies especially if it was a unanimous decision. Maybe after Donnie’s first defense, and (if) the offer is right,” he told The STAR.

The Mexican trainer said not even a draw would have made them feel good in this very long night of boxing, where practically the entire undercard went the distance.

AJ Banal defended his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title over Mexico’s Mario Briones via another unanimous decision.

“A draw still wouldn’t be a good decision. A draw still was not a good call but a little fair to us,” said the trainer.

The 29-year-old hometown hero was strong at the start, taking the first five rounds with his big right hand. But he wavered from the sixth, losing steam and until the 10th round, fought hard to survive.

There was swelling under Nietes’ right eye from the sixth round, and in the next four rounds he was outboxed and outmuscled by the Mexican champion, and at times he looked ready to fall.

Nietes was clearly out of gas, his legs wobbly. He often clinched and ran away from trouble, and at one point he wrestled Garcia to the canvas. During breaks he sunk on his wooden stool.

Garcia banged away at Nietes, landing heavy blows to the side of the body but often missing upstairs with punches that could have put Nietes down, if not out, if only they landed.

Some of the fans that filled the coliseum may have given up on Nietes that they started heading toward the exit by the ninth round, not knowing what was to transpire later on.

After an accidental clash of heads in the 2:25 mark of the 11th round, Nietes summoned all his remaining strength and started to connect. He took the round amid cheers from the crowd.

The 12th and final round was also tight, but Nietes seemed to land the clearer blows and set the stage for what could have or should have been a very close decision.