CEBU, Philippines - "He has to fall."
This was the short but sharp verbal jab hurled by Mexican fighter Moises Fuentes at his Filipino rival Donnie "Ahas" Nietes, four days ahead of their historic showdown topbilling the "Pinoy Pride XVIII:World Champion vs. World Champion" scheduled on Saturday night at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
"I come well-prepared and he (Nietes) has to fall," warned Fuentes, the reigning WBO minimumweight titlist who moved up from the 105-pound division to the 108-pound class to challenge Nietes for the WBO light flyweight belt.
The 27-year-old Fuentes, however, said he has so much respect for Nietes and that he has to work hard to dethrone the two-division world champion from Bacolod City.
"Nietes is great fighter. He's a great champion. I respect him a lot and I am thankful for this opportunity to fight him," said Fuentes in a press conference yesterday at Formo Resto Bar in Banilad Town Centre. "I will fight strong and I will work well for the win. This is very important match for me. Eveybody in Mexico knows that I came here to fight a world champion and hopefully win the title."
In his quest to topple Nietes from his throne, Fuentes said he draws added inspiration from Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera, who will be coming over to Cebu to personally cheer for him in the blockbuster show bankrolled by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.
"Marco Antonio Barrera is a legend. He inspires me to become a great Mexican fighter like him someday," said Fuentes, who scored a masterful fifth round stoppage of former world champion Ivan Calderon in his previous ring appearance four months ago at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
A far cry from his unofficial 16-1 record spiked with 8KOs posted on boxrec.com, Fuentes actually holds a formidable 26-1 slate with 20 victories by knockout, according to his trainer/manager Jorge Barrera.
Like his prized ward, Jorge Barrera is confident on their chances of pulling a huge upset before Nietes' hometown fans. "We will come out of the fight with our hands in victory," he said.
On the undercard of Nietes-Fuentes duel, Genesis "Azukal" Servania and Jimrex "The Executioner" Jaca are both primed and ready for war against their respective rivals.
Servania (19-0, 6KOs), the current WBO Asia-Pacific and WBC Silver super bantamweight champion, will stake his unbeaten record against Indonesian 'Time Bomb' Angky Angkota (26-8, 14KOs), while the resurgent Jaca (30-6-3, 20KOs) aims to stretch his hot streak to nine when he slugs it out with Rachamongkol Sor Pleonchit (13-4, 5KOs) of Thailand's world-renowned Kokiet Gym.
The rest of the bouts feature Mark Bernaldez of Butuan City vs. Rolando Omela of Davao City; Ralph Lulu of Sultan Kudarat vs. Alvin Makiling of Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Juren Labordo of Bacolod City vs. Marlou Talili of Guindulman, Bohol; Rey Morales of Himamaylan City vs. Abel Gayhon of Malaybalay; and Kazuma Ejiri of Kobe, Japan vs. Andrew Palas of Cebu City.
Tickets are priced at P250 for balcony, P350 for ballroom, P500 for golden seats, P1,250 for VIP 4th row, P1,500 for VIP 3rd row, P2,000 for VIP 2nd row, P3,000 for VIP first row, and P4,000 for Platinum VIP.
For reservations and other inquiries, one may contact 505-9513, 0923-1072890, 0915-8690905, 0927-5612059 or visit www.alaboxing.com. (FREEMAN)