Nietes leads Philippine bid in Pinoy Pride 38

MANILA, Philippines – Donnie Nietes comfortably tipped the scales at the flyweight limit of 112 pounds heading to his anticipated clash with Edgar Sosa of Mexico in Pinoy Pride 38 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

It will be a battle between former light-flyweight champions.

Spicing up the event are Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and “King” Arthur Villanueva who will collide with Mexicans Ramiro Robles and Juan Jimenez.

Magsayo (14-0 with 11 knockouts), weighed in at 125.5 lbs for the defense of his WBO International featherweight crown against Robles (13-5-1 with eight knockouts) who weighed in at 123.5.

Villanueva (29-1-0 with 15 knockouts) will seek a clear win over Jimenez (22-10-0) in a rematch of their previous clash last May when a headbutt cut the fight short.

Villanueva, the reigning WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion, weighed in at 117.5 while Jimenez had trouble making weight. On his first try, the Mexican was at 119.5 or 1-1/2 pounds over the limit.

After two hours of trying to get rid of excess pounds, he came at 119, and was no longer allowed to lose any more weight. Instead, he will fight with the heavier gloves (10 oz). If he beats Villanueva, the title will be declared vacant. The 34-year-old Nietes is making his debut in the flyweight division after a long and historic reign as world champion at 104 and 108 pounds for eight years.

Nietes has not lost a fight in 12 years now, and has run out of opponents at 108.

Besides, he said he has struggled to make weight in his latest outings as a light-flyweight.

Sosa, a 37-year-old veteran, will give the Filipino boxer a glimpse of what to expect in his new weight class. The Mexican weighed in at 111.5 pounds at the Eagle Rock Plaza Mall.

“I need to be smart and aggressive,” Sosa told the Mexican press days ago.

Sosa is a seasoned warrior with a ring record of 52-9-0 with 30 knockouts. He’s been to many title fights, and as a champion defended his crown 11 times.

Nietes will have to hurdle Sosa if he thinks he’s ready to conquer the flyweight class.

His promoter, Michael Aldeguer, said if Nietes can’t handle Sosa then he will have no business competing in the flyweight division.

Nietes moved up in weight hoping to land the dream match with Juan Francisco Estrada. But that’s not going to happen soon because the Mexican just moved up to 115 pounds.

Also at 115 now is Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, the reigning pound-for-pound champion. Many times, Nietes said he also wants a crack at the Nicaraguan.

Nietes will be hard-pressed to beat Sosa in his flyweight debut, and he knows it’s not going to be easy.