Nietes will have hands full vs Fuentes

MANILA, Philippines - Mexican challenger Moises Fuentes said he will make every punch count against Filipino champion Donnie Nietes on Saturday at the MOA Arena.

“I will make every punch hurt,” vowed the 24-year-old Fuentes as he looked forward his rematch with Nietes, 31, the reigning WBO light-flyweight champion.

The two boxers figured in a controversial draw at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City in March last year. The fight could have gone either way.

Fuentes said there was nothing else he could do when the fight went to the scorecards.

“That draw was (meant) to protect Donnie Nietes,” said Fuentes during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Fuentes arrived in the country last week and said he has already acclimatized to the weather, just similar to the summer temperature back home.

“It doesn’t matter. I came to fight,” he said through a Spanish interpreter.

Fuentes trained for four months and sparred 120 rounds to prepare for the rematch that will highlight Pinoy Pride 25.

“I trust myself. I’m well prepared. It will be a very clear fight (win). I will do what I can  do,” said Fuentes.

The Mexican challenger arrived at the forum with his stablemates Martin “Diablo” Tecuapetla and Sergio “El Cuate” Villanueva who will face separate foes.

Tecuapetla battles Milan Melindo for the WBO International flyweight title while Villanueva will be up against the comebacking Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista.

Mexican trainers Jorge Barrera and Armando Rivera also graced the forum.

Dennis Canete, vice president of the ALA Boxing Promotions, said Nietes has trained very hard for this fight because another victory will push him closer to history.

Canete said if Nietes remains a world champion until Dec. 31 this year, he will surpass the record of the great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde as the longest reigning Filipino world champion (seven years and three months from 1960 to 1967).

“But we see that Fuentes is also very serious,” said Canete, who added that Robert Byrd is set to fly in to be the third man on the ring on Saturday.

“We came to make war,” said Barrera, brother of the great Mexican boxer Marco Antonio Barrera, who’s also arriving in the country to watch the fight at ringside.

“We hope the people of the Philippines will respect the decision of the judges,” said Barrea.

“If they win, they win. If they lose, they lose. We will not blame anyone,” Rivera added.