Nietes calls out big names

Not resting on his laurels

CEBU, Philippines — The legendary Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes (42-1-5, 23KOs) of Cebu's world-renowned ALA Gym greeted the new year with fireworks - literally and figuratively - after he punched his way to a split decision victory over three-division world champion Kazuto Ioka (23-2, 13KOs) of Japan to seize the previously vacant WBO super flyweight belt four nights ago at the Wynn Palace Cotai Resort and Casino in Macau.

In an awesome display of ring generalship gleaned on his nearly two decades of fighting experience, the 36-year-old Nietes took full control of the younger and stronger Ioka with his slick punching skills from the get go on the way to earn the nod of two of the three judges for the split verdict.

The fighting pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental thus galvanized his status as one of the greatest Filipino ring gladiators of all time, aligning himself with Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire Jr. as the only Pinoy fighters to win four world titles in different weight divisions.

"Of course I am very happy because I have fulfilled my dream to become a four-division world champion," said Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion who is currenly ranked No.10 in the list of world's best pound-for-pound fighters behind Vasiliy Lomachenko, Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, Aleksandr Usyk, Gennady Golovkin, Naoya Inoue, Mikey Garcia, Srisaket Sor Sungvisai and Errol Spence Jr.

But Nietes is not yet done. He just don't want to rest on his laurels for now.

With no plans of moving up to another weight class, Nietes sets his sights next on the elite super flyweights he had long been wanting to cross paths inside the ring.

"Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez, they are all in my target list. I want to fight next either of them," said Nietes. "But it all depends on my manager. I will just abide with their decision because they are the ones who know what is best for me."

Rungvisai (47-4,1 41KOs), a two-time WBC 115-pound titlist from Thailand, is the Ring magazine and lineal super flyweight champion, Gonzalez (47-2, 39KOs) of Nicaragua once reigned as pound-for-pound king, while Estrada (38-3, 26KOs) of Mexico was the former WBO/WBA flyweight ruler who was the first to scuttle to world title dreams of Nietes' stablemate Milan Melindo.

"My win over Ioka means so much to me but I still want to accomplish something. Hopefully, I would be able to get my dream fight soon," said Nietes.

Looking back at his humble beginnings as a janitor at the ALA Gym to his phenomenal rise to boxing immortality, Nietes has really gone a long way. And like a fine wine, he gets better with age.

To those who want to follow in his footsteps, Nietes has sage advice for them:"It is just a matter of discipline, hard work and dedication in everything you do. Listen to your coach and always keep your feet firmly on the ground no matter what you have achieved in life. Above all, have faith in God." (FREEMAN)