Nietes: I want ‘Chocolatito’

CARSON, California – Donnie Nietes staged a boxing clinic before a pro-Pinoy crowd at the StubHub Center Saturday and retained his WBO light-flyweight crown with a one-sided win over Mexico’s Juan “Pinky” Alejo.

As the fight progressed under the cool California weather, Nietes piled up the points but never really had the chance to put the Mexican away.

Still, the longest-reigning Filipino boxing champion managed to entertain the crowd, which chanted his nickname “Ahas” or snake beginning in the early rounds.

Nietes responded with clear, hard shots, a jab that worked and sneaky uppercuts, that turned Alejo’s face into a virtual speedball.

The Mexican challenger never gave up when people thought he would, and left his thumbmark on Nietes brown face – a tiny cut on the left eye.

Nietes said he hurt his right hand in the third round.

It didn’t really matter.

The three judges scored it 120-108, 119-109, 119-109 and awarded Nietes his 37th victory against a single defeat that came 11 years ago, in a fight held in Indonesia.

Nietes defended his 108 lb title for the eighth time. He’s been a world champion since 2007, a feat no other Filipino boxer had established.

Regardless of what happens in the future, Nietes will go down in history as one of the great Filipinos ever to grace the brutal sport.

After the victory, he danced around the ring waving a Philippine flag, and the WBO and Ring belts hanging from his shoulders.

“Perfect fight,” he said in celebration.

“Masaya ako sa performance ko (I’m happy with my performance),” said Nietes, now looking forward to a dream clash with WBC flyweight king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.

The champion from Nicaragua kept his pound-for-pound title after stopping Filipino-American Brian Viloria in the ninth round, on the same night. (Story below)

But to get to Gonzalez, the 33-year-old Nietes will have to move up in weight because the Nicaraguan, undefeated in 44 fights, is not the one chasing the Filipino.

Nietes said he’s ready to face Gonzalez.

“I’m ready for him. Yan ang gusto ko na laban (That’s the fight I want),” added Nietes, who used to walk into the ring carrying his pet, a yellow python.

“Of course. Gusto ko talaga si Chocolatito,” Nietes said.

The pride of Murcia in Negros Occidental said he went for a stoppage but just couldn’t get one, crediting Alejo for a gallant 12-round stand.

“Gusto ko din sana tapusin pero matibay din. Magaling sa counter at malakas din ang overhand,” he said.

Nietes said he tried his best to entertain the crowd, which came to see him fight on US soil for the first time in his 12-year career.

“Maganda naman ang performance ko,” he said.

The crowd roared in approval.