CEBU, Philippines - Although he's prepared to go for a 12-round war, ALA Boxing Gym star Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes (33-1-4, 19KOs) strongly feels the fight will not last the full distance when he defends his WBO light flyweight throne against Mexican challenger Carlos 'Chapito' Velarde (26-3-1, 14KOs) in the main event of the hotly-anticipated "Pinoy Pride 28:History in the Making" fightcard this Saturday night at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
"I've seen some of his (Velarde) fights on the tape and I can say that he's really a good boxer. He's a busy fighter who throws a lot of punches, a kind of opponent that should not be taken lightly," said Nietes in a chat with this writer moments before the event's final press conference yesterday at Tin Gow restaurant of Waterfront Hotel. "But I'm highly optimistic that I can knock him out because of my superb conditioning and hard training for this fight. I can now feel my speed and power and I'm in the best of shape I've never experienced before."
"I'm ready to go for 12 rounds but if there's a chance, I will definitely go for a knockout in the early rounds," added the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental.
Chasing after history, Nietes aims to break the record of the late Cebuano great Gabriel "Flash" Elorde as the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion. Elorde held the world junior welterweight title for seven years and three months.
It's now seven years and 45 days since Nietes ascended the WBO minimumweight throne with a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Thai Pornsawan Porpramook on September 30, 2007 also at the Waterfront Hotel. Hence, he is just three months away of erasing Elorde's record and he could easily achieve that monumental feat is he soundly gets past Velarde.
Interestingly, setting a historic mark in Philippine boxing is far from Nietes' mind, much more the very least of his concerns.
"Honestly, I did not think about it (breaking Elorde's record) because the more I think of it, the more I get pressured. My mindset really is to put on a show and win against Velarde. Everything will just follow," said the 32-year-old Nietes.
For ALA Promotions International President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer, Nietes making history matters most for them.
"This is a special fight for Nietes and Cebu boxing that is why we are also putting up this historical card. Looking back seven years ago, Nietes gave ALA Gym its first ever world boxing champion. He's a tribute to my father (ALA founder Antonio 'Bidoy" L. Aldeguer) who has done so much to boxing for the past 25 years. To put a stamp to history is something I want to see and cherish in my entire life," said Aldeguer.
But for now, everything still needs to be affirmed as Velarde, taking pride of the Mexican spirit in him, vows to gatecrash the party and spoil Nietes' date with history.
"I am here to make history. Nietes is a great fighter but I believe I can stop him," said Velarde, who made some clarifications on the statement he made two days ago about knocking out Nietes. "I did not mention that I will knock him out. What I said is that I am a boxer who is capable of knocking him inside the ring.
The 24-year-old Velarde is also unfazed fighting at his enemy's territory despite the stinging setbacks he suffered previously in Japan and Panama. "I'm not intimidated fighting here. As a fighter, it doesn't matter how many times I lose. What is important is how many times I rise and win again," he said.
In the supporting main event, Milan "El Metodico" Melindo hopes to make the most from the 'second opportunity' that smacked his way as he battles Saul "Baby" Alvarez of Mexico in an IBF light flyweight elimination bout.
"This is a second opportunity for me and I want to make the most out of this chance given to me. I will try my best not only to win but also to come up with a very entertaining fight," assured Melindo, who faltered in his first attempt at a world title against WBO/WBA flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada last year in Macau.
If victorious against Alvarez, fighting again for a world crown against WBA 108-pound king Javier Mendoza is the next order of business for Melindo.
"His path is clear if he wins - he's definitely going to fight for a world title next year," said Aldeguer.
Like Melindo, former WBO minimumweight titlist Merlito "Tiger" Sabillo also seeks to rebuild his road to championship glory when he takes on Faris Neggo of Indonesia in a non-title bout set for eight rounds.
"I believe that everybody deserves a second chance and that's what we are giving them (Melindo and Sabillo)," said Aldeguer.
In the other attraction of the star-studded show touted as the biggest and grandest event in the annals of Phl boxing, 'Prince' Albert Pagara will put his IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight title on the line against the dangerous Mexican banger Raul Hirales.
The other bouts to watch out for pit the resurgent AJ "Bazooka' Banal against Maxsaisai Sithsaithong of Thailand, the young but promising ALA mainstay Mark "Magnifico " Magsayo versus Moon-Sun Jung of South Korea, and Jomar Fajardo opposite another Mexican visitor Francisco Rodriguez. (FREEMAN)