Nietes, Palicte ordered to fight for vacant WBO super flyweight title

MANILA, Philippines – Another world title fight involving two Filipinos is coming this year.

This after the World Boxing Organization has ordered longtime champion Donnie Nietes and countryman Aston Palicte to fight for its vacant super flyweight championship.

A report by Philboxing.com’s Dong Secuya said the WBO sent a letter to the boxers’ respective promoters ordering the two camps to begin negotiations for the fight within 10 days. If an agreement can’t be reached by the deadline, a purse bid will be held for the right to stage the bout.

“The winner of the contest must face the Mandatory Challenger designated by the Championship Committee within 90 days from the date of the bout,” added WBO championship committee chairman Luis Batista Salas in the letter.

Nietes fights under the Michael Aldeguer-led ALA Promotions, while Palicte is promoted by RJJ Promotions of boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.

Interestingly, the planned Nietes-Palicte showdown will succeed the first world championship fight between two Filipinos in nearly a century — Jerwin Ancajas’ IBF super flyweight title defense against Jonas Sultan next month.

“This is something big for Philippine boxing — another world title fight between two Filipinos, who would have thought about it that four Filipinos would fight for a world title this year and in the same division?” Aldeguer said in the Philboxing.com report.

Ancajas will defend his crown against Sultan on May 26 (May 27 Manila time) at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

The last time two Filipinos fought for a world title was on May 2, 1925, when boxing great Francisco Guilledo, popularly known as “Pancho Villa,” defended his flyweight crown against Clever Sencio in Manila.

Meanwhile, Aldeguer said he is mulling to stage the bout on July 21, either in Cebu or in the US where Nietes had already seen action.

“But it depends on the other party. I am also open to have the fight held in the US because Donnie is now popular over there. But we've been receiving phone calls asking us why Nietes in no longer fighting here so my first preference is for the fight to be held here,” the promoter added.

Nietes (41-1-4, with 23 KOs) is coming off an impressive knockout win against Juan Carlos Reveco in Inglewood, California last February. He has held the WBO minimumweight and light flyweight titles, becoming the longest reigning Filipino world champion at one point.

For his part, Palicte (24-2, with 20 KOs) retained the NABF super flyweight diadem with a TKO win over Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in Round Rock, Texas last year.