Nietes ready to go distance

MANILA, Philippines - Defending WBO lightflyweight champion Donnie (Ahas) Nietes is prepared to go the full route in taking on Mexican challenger Felipe Salguero but will go for a knockout if the opportunity presents itself in their 12-round title bout at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of the Resorts World Manila this Saturday.

Nietes, 30, is making the first defense of the crown he wrested from another Mexican, Ramon Garcia, on a unanimous 12-round decision in Bacolod City last October. He reigned as WBO minimumweight champion for four years before moving up to the 108-pound division. Nietes is unbeaten in his last 20 outings and Salguero in his last 17 so their encounter is a collision course where only one man will be left standing.

Nietes said he’ll do whatever it takes to beat Salguero “I’ve watched videos of three of his fights,” said the Murcia, Negros Occidental, native in Pilipino. “He fights like me, very tactical, relies on timing. He likes to jab from a distance, doesn’t take chances, isn’t an inside fighter. His best punches are a right straight and an overhand right. My plan is to box him at the start. I’ll adjust depending on what style he shows. I sparred over 100 rounds with Milan (Melindo), Jerson (Mancio) and Arthur (Villanueva). Right now, I’m just two pounds over the limit so I’ll be on target at the weigh-in.”

Melindo, 24, battles Colombia’s Jesus Geles and Villanueva, 23, faces Jeffrey Cerna in the Nietes-Salguero undercard. Melindo has a 26-0 record, with 10 KOs, while Villanueva’s mark is 18-0, with 12 KOs. Mancio, 24, totes a record of 15-3-3, with six KOs, and is the Philippine lightflyweight champion.

Nietes said he plans to tip the scales on the button at 108 at the weigh-in tomorrow and enter the ring at 118. “Against Garcia, I couldn’t bring up my weight to 118 for the fight after I weighed in at 108,” said Nietes. “I wasn’t as strong as I wanted to be. There was also a lot of pressure on me because the fight was held in Bacolod City and my relatives, friends and neighbours turned out. I realized it’s not easy to fight under hometown pressure. But now, there’s no pressure. My parents are coming from Negros with (Murcia) Mayor Andrew Montelibano and my uncle Dan to watch the fight. They give me motivation and inspiration, not pressure.”

In the gym, Nietes said he focused on building up power in both hands. “I worked on my left hook,” he said. “I know it’s important to have power not just with my right but also my left. That’s the thing I did different in the gym preparing for this fight. I concentrated on increasing my power. I wanted to get stronger. I feel that at this weight, I’ll improve my knockout power. If I go up to 118 for the fight, I think I’ll have the strength to knock out Salguero.”

Nietes said he’s not awed by the glitz of the Resorts World Manila. He checked in at a hotel near the Las Vegas-style complex yesterday. “I’m used to fighting in different places,” he said. “I defended my WBO minimumweight title thrice in Mexico. It’s harder to fight in your hometown. I’m more relaxed fighting away from home.”

Nietes said he won’t bring his pet Burmese python named Don Matt to the fight. “My snake is at home in Cebu,” he said. “My first pet snake Don died so I bought a new snake from Matt Montalvo of Bacolod for P6,000.” Nietes used to take care of ALA Boxing Stable owner Tony Aldeguer’s pet snakes in Cebu until he got his own. That’s how Nietes was dubbed “Ahas.”

Nietes hasn’t lost since dropping a split decision to Indonesian Angky Angkota in Jakarta in 2004. His record is 29-1-3, with 16 KOs. He turned pro in 2003 and won his first world title in 2007. Nietes repulsed four challengers in defending his WBO minimumweight crown before invading the lightflyweight class. Salguero won the lightly-regarded WBF version of the lightflyweight championship two years ago and hasn’t’ lost since he was outpointed by Javier Mendoza in 2008. Last January, Salguero halted Panama’s Carlos Melo in the fifth round in Tijuana. The Mexican has compiled a 16-2-1 mark, with 11 KOs, since his pro debut in 2008.