Mexican confident of dethroning Nietes

MANILA, Philippines - Former WBF light flyweight champion Felipe Salguero said he came over to the Philippines to strip Donnie Nietes of his WBO light flyweight crown and bring it home in Mexico.

Salguero expressed extreme confidence he can beat the Filipino champion in their 12-round title bout at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of the Resorts World Manila tomorrow night.

“Certainly, I’m going to beat him,” said the cocky Mexican fighter, through an interpreter, during the media launch of the Pinoy Pride XIV fight card at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila yesterday.

The Nietes-Salguero fight headlines the card that also features Milan Melindo staking his WBO international flyweight crown against Colombian challenger Jesus Geles.

The other main supporting bout pits Genesis Servania versus Mexican Genaro Garcia in a fight for the WBC international silver super-bantamweight championship.

Five other fights are in the undercard of this event co-presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports. Weigh-in is set at 11 a.m. today at the Robinson’s Galleria.

Garcia, the real Garcia and not the ringer that showed up in a recent ALA event, likewise said he came over to bring home a championship belt.

“I will win and return in 12 months to defend it against a Filipino challenger,” said Garcia, a seasoned fighter who has fought eight world champions in Wilfredo Vasquez Jr., Toshiaki Nishioka, Luis Alberto Perez, Hozumi Hasegawa, Rafael Marquez, Victor Rabanales, Cruz Carvajal and Mauricio Martinez.

Servania said he’ll do the talking atop the ring.

Nietes said he’s prepared himself well for the fight, making him confident he can defend the crown he won over Ramon Garcia, also a Mexican.

Salguero, however, insisted he would wrest the crown, promising to score a knockout.

“I saw his fight with Garcia. It was a doubtful decision,” said Salguero.

Nietes dominated the early rounds then before tiring down, gasping for breath towards the end. He salvaged the bout via decision.

“I have improved my skills. I feel a lot different now than the last time,” said Nietes.

“I’m ready to fight for 12 rounds. If an opportunity to win by knockout presents itself, then I’ll go for it,” added the Murcia, Negros Occidental native.

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.

His Mexican rival has compiled a 16-2-1 mark, with 11 KOs, since his pro debut in 2008.