Nietes could opt to unify

MANILA, Philippines - It appears that newly crowned IBF flyweight champion Donnie Nietes will campaign in the 112-pound division longer than expected and an option may be to unify the title overseas instead of making his first defense which is tentatively scheduled in Bacolod on Nov. 18.

“Either we fight the world champions in other organizations to unify the (flyweight) championship abroad or defend the IBF crown on Pinoy Pride 43 in November,” said ALA Boxing president Michael Aldeguer the other day. “I believe Donnie will stay at 112 for now. He might be too small for 115 (the superflyweight limit).”

Last Saturday, Nietes was pushed close to the edge by Thai slugger Komgrich Nantapech and appeared to breathe heavily down the stretch but staged a furious rally in the late rounds to seal the outcome. Nietes captured the vacant IBF title via a unanimous decision in Cebu. Neither fighter was in serious danger of going down but they were both staggered in fierce exchanges throughout the war of attrition.

Aldeguer said it was one of Nietes’ stiffest tests ever. “Nantapech looked a little bit bigger,” he said. “You have to give credit to the Thai. He was tough and aggressive and showed a lot of heart.”

Aldeguer said Nietes’ best fight ever was when he stopped Mexico’s Moises Fuentes in their rematch to retain the WBO lightflyweight crown at the Mall of Asia Arena in 2014. The year before, they fought to a majority draw in Cebu. “Donnie showed his power at 108, knocking out Fuentes and Raul Garcia,” said Aldeguer. “We still don’t know if he can bring up his power to 112.”

But ALA Boxing chief trainer Edito Villamor said he’s confident Nietes’ power will remain a factor at flyweight. On a scale of 1 to 10, Villamor rated Nietes’ performance against Nantapech a 9. “Nantapech was one of Donnie’s toughest opponents,” said Villamor who worked Nietes’ corner last Saturday with brother Edmund, Michael Domingo and Peter Cuizon. “Nantapech came prepared and was determined to win. He was inspired by his countryman Srisaket Sor Rungvisai’s recent upset win over Chocolatito (Gonzalez). Donnie didn’t really have a hard time making the weight. He was just right at 112.”

Although Nantapech seized the initiative in the middle rounds with Nietes slowing down because of a swollen left hand, Villamor said he was never worried. “We knew Donnie will never give up, no matter what happens,” he said in Pilipino. “We didn’t find it difficult to give Donnie instructions on how to adjust and what to do. The jab was his set-up punch. What was most effective was his side-to-side movement which gave Donnie the angles to throw his right straight, uppercut and left hook.”

ALA Boxing chairman and patriarch Tony Aldeguer said Nietes shouldn’t aspire to move up to superflyweight at this stage. “I personally feel that Donnie shouldn’t aim to go up to 115 as I find him rather small even for a flyweight,” he said. “Another factor is his advancing age. Donnie’s no spring chicken anymore at 34. The only thing going for Donnie is his ability to evade punches and his excellent defense that has prevented him from being knocked down all these years.”

The other world flyweight champions are the WBA’s Kazuto Ioka of Japan, the WBC’s Juan Hernandez of Mexico and the WBO’s Zou Shiming of China. After Nantapech, the IBF’s next highest-ranked contender is former WBA flyweight titlist Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina. Reveco, 33, has lost twice to Ioka and has a 38-3 record, with 19 KOs.

Shiming, 35, would be an intriguing opponent for Nietes. They know each other well, having sparred together at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. Shiming, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has a 9-1 record, with 2 KOs, and is a technician like Nietes. If ever they face off, the fight will be scientific and tactical.

Ioka, 28, has made five successful defenses of his WBA throne since winning the title two years ago. Like Nietes, Ioka has collected world crowns in three weight classes. His record is 22-1, with 13 KOs. Hernandez, 30, took the WBC title on a third round stoppage of Thai Nawaphon Kaikanha in Bangkok last March and is set to stake the belt against Japan’s Daigo Higa in Tokyo on May 20. Hernandez’ record is 34-2, with 25 KOs. The Mexican hasn’t lost in his last 16 bouts since he was outpointed by Ioka in 2011. Nietes’ record is 40-1-4, with 22 KOs.