Nietes statue rises in Murcia

CEBU, Philippines - Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan has 'The Spirit', a bronze sculpture outside the United Center in Chicago that is a shining emblem of his greatness. A month ago, Argentina unveiled a statue in reverence to its football legend Leonil Messi. All over the world, many sculptures have been built to commemorate the enormity of an athlete's achievement and the pride he brings to his kind.

You can now count Filipino ring star Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes in the distinguished list of sporting heroes whose stirring exploits have been immortalized through an iconic figure.

Just the other day, the local government of Murcia in Negros Occidental led by Mayor Andrew Montelibano formally inaugurated a brass statue of Nietes located at the municipal hall grounds as a tribute to their hometown hero for his exemplary achievements in the fight arena.

More that the plaudits and laurels he reaped, the inspiring story of Nietes, rising from his humble beginnings as a janitor and pet caretaker at Cebu’s fabled ALA Boxing Gym to one of the greatest fighters the country has ever produced, is larger than life.

The 34-year-old prizefighter has been undefeated since winning the vacant World Boxing Organization minimumweight title via a hard-earned uninanimous decision against the durable Thai fighter Pornsawan Porpramook on September 30, 2007 at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

That earned him the record previously held by the late Gabriel 'Flash" Elorde as the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion at eight years and nine months now.

For that, he was awarded with the prestigious RING championship belt and a diamond-encrusted ‘Super Champion’ ring by the WBO.

Nietes was also honored with the ‘Pinoy Pride Lifetime Achievement Award,’ not only for his invaluable contribution to the tremendous success of the boxing series that has become a blockbuster hit even on foreign shores but also for personifying the true ‘Pinoy Pride’ spirit.

After defending his throne four times, Nietes went on to become a two-division world champion after he decisioned the tough Mexican Ramon Harcia Hirales to snatch the WBO light flyweight strap on October 8, 2011 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

Nietes retained his title 10 times, the most latest was by a resounding fifth round TKO of Mexico's Raul Garcia on May 28 in Bacolod. Aside from gaining distinction as a WBO Super Champion, he is also the light flyweight title-holder of the prestigious RING magazine considered as the bible of boxing.

Nietes is looking forward to snatch a third crown in a different weight class, but a megabout with WBO/WBA flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada is still in the works.

When asked on the status of the planned superfight, ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer said it's now 50-50 after their supposed meeting with the top executives of Zanfer Promotions led by Fernando Beltran, the handler of Estrada, supposedly set last week in Los Angeles did not take place.

"Now it's 50-50. We also have not discussed the details yet and have not heard from the Estrada camp. It will still be a long way to make it happen. It takes time to make a fight of this magnitude," said Aldeguer.

If their negotiations with the Estrada camp fizzle out, Aldeguer said Nietes is already locked up to defend his WBO belt against mandatory challenger Moises Fuentes in the main event of ALA Promotions' third Pinoy Pride event in the US set for September 24 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. (FREEMAN)