CARSON, California – Donnie Nietes, the WBO light-flyweight champion from the Philippines, seeks an impressive win against Juan Alejo of Mexico at the StubHub Center here Saturday evening (Sunday noon in Manila).
“Dapat (It must be) impressive,” said Nietes on the eve of the fight, his first on US territory.
If successful, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion can start thinking of bigger things, and that includes moving up to the flyweight division.
“Tingnan natin (Let’s see),” he said.
Over 2,800 miles away, on the same night in New York, WBC flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez of Nicaragua faces Filipino-American Brian Viloria. (Story at left)
It’s the contest most fight fans would choose to see, Gonzalez being the current pound-for-pound champion and undefeated in 43 fights.
Viloria is a star in his own right, being the former world champion at 104 and 108 lbs. At 34 he’s turning back the clock against Gonzalez, 28.
Nietes’ eighth title defense is a mere backdrop to the one at Madison Square Garden.
Everybody knows it.
Nietes tipped the scales at 107.8 lbs, and Alejo, an inch or two taller, at 107.4 lbs in a venue no bigger than an ordinary classroom.
Then the two fighters gladly posed before the cameras as jaded ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. shared his golden voice.
“Bakbakan na (It’s fight time),” said Nietes later on, in a tiny corner of the room, done eating pasta, hard-boiled eggs and a big banana.
He refused to make a prediction, and neither his opponent.
“Bukas na lang (We’ll see tomorrow). Basta mag-enjoy ang tao (As long as the people enjoy),” said Nietes, now the only reigning Filipino world champion.
Nietes, 36-1-4 with 21 knockouts, can’t stay away from the shadows of Gonzalez and Viloria.
Because if he moves up to 112, he will have to consider taking on either or both.
“May chance si Brian,” said Nietes, even if at the back of his mind is a projected battle against the crafty boxer from Nicaragua.
“Nanggigigil na ako sa laban kay (I’m so eager to fight) Roman. Kaya dapat impressive ako dito para makuha ang laban,” he said.
Nietes’ handler, Michael Aldeguer of ALA Promotions, said there have been initial talks with the Gonzalez camp.
“They want the fight and Donnie wants the fight. We want the fight. But it’s premature to talk about that,” he said.
It’s not only Nietes who has someone else at the back of his mind – but Alejo, too.
“Of course I want to fight Gonzalez because he’s the number one in the world right now,” said Alejo (21-3-0 with 13 knockouts).