Nietes makes flyweight debut today

CEBU, Philippines - Two-division world champion Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes of Cebu's fabled ALA Boxing Gym will have his baptism of fire as a flyweight when he battles former WBC light flyweight titleholder Edgar Sosa of Mexico in the main event of the "Pinoy Pride 38:Philippines vs Mexico" this morning (Philippine time) at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

At stake in their 12-round rumble is the WBO International flyweight crown.

Nietes (38-1-4, 22KOs) scaled in at exactly 112 pounds, while Sosa (53-9, 30KOs) was half a pound lighter during the official weigh-in yesterday at the East Rock Plaza Mall.

The 34-year-old Nietes voluntarily abdicated his WBO light flyweight throne to campaign in the flyweight division in pursuit of a superbout with WBA/WBO king Juan Francisco Estrada.

 But that will happen anytime soon as Estrada recently dropped his twin belts to move up the super flyweight rank in an attempt to set up a megafight with the undefeated pound-for-pound king Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua.

Still, the fighting pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental is hard-pressed to make an impression against Sosa as he seeks the right launching pad in his bid for a third world title in a different weight class.

 Nietes has earlier said he is comfortable in his new fighting weight where he intends to slug it out with the best out there.

  If he gets past Sosa, the next big fight available for Nietes is either against Zou Shiming (WBO No. 2) or Kwanpichit Onesongchai (WBO No. 3) most likely for the vacant WBO plum next year.

Aside from Nietes, unbeaten featherweight  prospect Mark 'Magnifico' Magsayo (14-0-0, 11KOs) and WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion 'King' Arthur Villanueva (29-1, 15KOs) will also see action in the third Pinoy Pride event of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports in the United States.

Magsayo will defend his WBO International featherweight strap against Ramiro Robles (13-5-1, 8KOs), while Villanueva will take on Juan 'Pineta' Jimenez (22-10) in an expected grudge rematch.