Nietes seals historic feat with TKO against Velarde

CEBU, Philippines – A history made even special. Two-division world champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes (34-1-4, 20KOs) cemented history as he successfully retained his WBO light flyweight title via seventh round TKO against Mexican challenger Carlos "Chapito" Velarde (26-4-1, 14KOs) in the main event of 'Pinoy Pride 28: History in the Making' fightcard the other night at the jam-packed Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental, will soon be the longest reigning Filipino world champion in the history on January next year, eclipsing the record of  late Cebuano great Gabriel "Flash" Elorde who held the world junior welterweight title for seven years and three months.

Nietes displayed excellent footwork and sharp combinations as he battered the hapless Mexican in the earlier rounds.  Velarde tried his best to engage in a toe-to-toe war against Nietes, but he was forced to be more of a defensive fighter as the Pinoy champion connected more clean and solid shots.

The 32-year-old Nietes started to push the phase harder in the fifth and sixth round as he wanted to finally end Velarde who has no answer from his barrage of punches to the head and body. Velarde also suffered a cut in the right eye at the fifth round that continued to bleed until the seventh round.

Even with a cut, the Mexican was willing to fight, but his corner men refused to let their fighter to continue  forcing referee Robert Byrd to raise Nietes hands as the victor.

“I know the knockout was near because he felt my power. I was looking to stop him in the eight or night round but his trainers surrendered,” said Nietes.

Nietes was also leading in the judges’ scorecard—68-65, 70-63, 70-63 before the fight was halted.

“Despite on how the fight ended, we once again witnessed how great Donnie is,” said ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael Aldeguer. “I think the Mexican was going to be stopped but they decided not to continue.”

Title will not be vacated

Aldeguer also said that Nietes will not be vacating his 108 lbs. title, but will be going for the world flyweight championship if the chance presents itself.

“Donnie will not leave his belt and he will be defending it again in March at Macau,” Aldeguer said. “But we will be negotiating for a title fight maybe for the WBO [flyweight] title of Juan Francisco Estrada.” Melindo, Pagara triumphed. In the supporting main event of the slambang card presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo (32-1, 12KOs) scored a unanimous decision win against Mexican Saul ‘Baby’ Juarez (20-4, 11KOs) in their IBF light flyweight title eliminator.

After 12 rounds of battle, three judges scored 115-113, 116-112 and 118-111 all in favor for the ALA Gym stalwart.

‘Prince’ Albert Pagara (22-0, 15KOs) also kept his IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight title as he dominated Mexican challenger Raul Hirales (22-4, 11KOs) via unanimous decision.

In the undercards, two other ALA boxers suffered contrasting fates as AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal (32-2, 22KOs) scored a unanimous decision win against Thai Maxsaisai Sithsaithong (15-6,4KOs) but former world champion Merlito ‘Tiger’ Sabillo (23-2, 12KOs) suffered a 4th round TKO loss against Indonesian Faris Nenggo (9-6, 3KOs).

Also, WBO/IBF minimumweight champion Francisco Rodriguez of Mexico (16-2-1, 11KOs) and Pinoy underdog Jomar Fajardo (14-5-2, 7KOs) also fought to a 10 round split draw. (FREEMAN)