CARSON, California – Four days to the fight, Donnie Nietes and company are ready to go and have started to ease down in training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
“Ready na tayo,” said Nietes, the WBO light-flyweight champion, after a light 90-minute training Tuesday afternoon.
His opponent, Juan Alejo of Mexico, flew in earlier in the morning, himself ready for Saturday’s battle at the StubHub Center.
Nietes said he’d seen much of Alejo on Youtube.
“Napanood ko na. Hindi nakakapagod kalaban. Nakatayo lang. Naghihintay mag-counter. (I’ve watched him. He’s not too active. He’s just waiting to counter),” said Nietes.
Nietes capped the heavy load over the weekend with a few more rounds of sparring against Filipino-American Brian Viloria who’s in for his own big fight.
It’s the third time in this camp that Nietes and Viloria shared the ring.
“Malaking tulong sa akin yung sparring sessions,” he said.
The title fight headlines Pinoy Pride 33 “Philippines vs the World” at the StubHub Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, which used to star David Beckham.
Also in the card are ALA Promotions big boys Albert and Jason Pagara, and Mark Magsayo, who will have their hands full against foes from Nicaragua and Mexico.
Coach Edito Villamor said the boxers are ready to go, all the hard work done and weight in check.
“No issue sa weight. Tama na (It’s okay),” said Villamor, joined here by his older brother Edmund.
“Light na lang,” said Villamor.
Albert, 19 years old and undefeated, will defend his IBF Intercontinental super-bantamweight title against William Gonzalez of Nicaragua while older brother Jason squares off against another Nicaraguan in Santos Benevides.
Magsayo, another undefeated youngster, faces Yardley Suarez of Mexico for the IBF Youth featherweight crown.
On the same night, far away in New York, Viloria takes on top pound for pound fighter Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua for the WBC flyweight crown.