Classic battle of world champs ends in draw

CEBU, Philippines - Donnies “Ahas” Nietes (31-1-4, 17KOs) barely kept his WBO light flyweight title, fighting to a 12-round majority draw with a sturdy Mexican challenger Moises Fuentes (26-1-1, 20KOs) in a classic war topbilling the “Pinoy Pride XVIII:World Champion vs. World Champion” fight card last Saturday night at the full-packed Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

It was a highly entertaining battle between two great champions that thrilled the spectators up to the moment when the judges' scorecards were read by the ring announcer.

Danrex Joseph Tapdasan of the Philippines penned the bout 115-113 for Nietes, but American judges Adelaide Byrd Byrd and Pat Russell both saw it even, 114-114, a decision that caught some quarters in total disbelief including Nietes himself.

“I was really surprised that it was a draw. I believe I clearly won the fight,” said Nietes, with blood still dripping from a nasty cut over his left eye caused by an accidental headbutt in round six. He also suffered a gaping gash on his right eyebrow inflicted by a clear punch of Fuentes in that very same round.

ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer also felt Nietes had done enough to be declared the victor.

“He's (Fuentes) the aggressor but if you look at the whole thing, it was Nietes who landed the clear punches,” said Aldeguer. “I was a bit surprised by the decision but the judges have their own opinion and we have to respect them.”  

Nietes was very composed and tactical in dealing with the body-punching Fuentes, who was pressing on the attack from the outset. He took at least three of the first four rounds and badly hurt the Mexican visitor with a series of solid head shots in the fifth.

Things have drastically changed for Nietes after he sustained a deep cut on both his eyebrows in round six. Fuentes, the reigning WBO minimumweight titlist, took advantage of the opportunity by firing in punches at will although he was at the receiving end of Nietes' effective counter-punching.

Nietes, visibly bothered by the cuts, started to slow down in round seven, allowing the gritty Fuentes to dictate the pace of the match.

Inspired by the fervent cheers of hometown fans, Nietes bravely shot back to life in the 11th round, pounding Fuentes with head blows and sharp jabs while employing a wily defensive stance which he carried over until the final bell to the delight of the crowd.

Still, the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental failed to get the nod of the two judges.

“It was a very close fight that could have gone either way,” said fight supervisor and WBO Vice President Leon Panoncillo.

The 30-year-old Nietes said he tried his best to finish off Fuentes in the early rounds, but his Mexican foe showed tremendous durability in taking all his power punches.

“I thought I could knock him out in the first three rounds, but he was so tough. I hit him with solid shots  several times, but he was strong enough to take them all,” said Nietes, who is open to the possibility of a rematch but wants the fight to take place in the United States and not in Mexico.

In the supporting main event, Genesis “Azukal” Servania (20-0, 6KOs) kept his undefeated record as well as his WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight belt with a resounding seventh round TKO victory over a comic Indon fighter Angky "Time Bomb" Angkota (26-8, 14KOs).

Servania virtually turned Angkota into a human punching bag, but the Indon seemed unhurt despite his heavy absorption of Servania's punishing blows. At times, Angkota lowered his guards, as if taunting the rising ALA Boxing Gym star to come in and show his stuff.

Servania, however, partiently worked his way to inflict damage mostly to the face of Angkota, transforming it into a red mask. With Angkota badly bruised and battered, referee Tony Pesons wisely waved off the bout to prevent the Indon from further harm with only a second left in round seven.

In the evening's most impressive showdown, the resurgent Jimrex “The Executioner” Jaca (31-6-3, 21KOs) came up with a splendid seventh round stoppage of Rachamongkol Sor Pleonchit (13-5, 5KOs) of Thailand to extend his winning streak to nine.

After flooring the Thai with a big left overhand in round two, Jaca locked himself up in a furious exchange of heavy blows and wild shots with Rachamongkol in the succeeding four rounds.

Jaca immediately jumped the gun on Rachamongkol in the seventh round, sneaking in a powerful right hook and followed it up with a crushing left straight to the face that sent the Thai flat on his back for good with 53 seconds left in that stretch. (FREEMAN)