Day of reckoning for Nietes

CEBU, Philippines — Judgment day beckons for ALA Gym star Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes (40-1-4, 22KOs) as he defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt for the first time against Argentine challenger Juan Carlos Reveco (39-3, 19KOs) today at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

Champion for a decade now, the 35-year-old Nietes hasn't dropped a fight since a controversial split decision loss to Indon champ Angky Angkotta on September 28, 2004 at the RCTI Studio in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In that span of time, Nietes won three world titles in as many weight divisions, and made history as the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion. He once held court in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight and lightweight divisions.

But the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental has yet to climb up the biggest stage of his fistic career.

For the first time, Nietes will fight on an HBO live telecast. Compared to his past assignments, the stakes are higher this time as a decisive victory over Reveco will surely open the door of brighter opportunities for him in the United States where megabuck deals abound.

"Fighting on HBO live telecast is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and I will make the most out of it. I am excited to showcase all what I've got on a major platform," said Nietes. "This is the moment I've been waiting for and I'm ready to put on the best performance of my career."

Nietes easily made weight during the official weigh-in yesterday. He came at 111.6 lbs in his first try, while Reveco had to shed off extra .2 lbs before hitting the scales at 112 lbs flat.

This is the only second time that Nietes will be seeing action in America. The first was in October 2015 at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California where he decisioned Mexico’s Juan Alejo to retain his WBO light flyweight crown in the first ever Pinoy Pride show of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports on US soil.

Reveco, on the other hand, will make his US debut.

The Nietes-Reveco duel will open the HBO telecast of the “Superfly 2” triple-header topbilled by Thai Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (43-4-1, 39KOs), who will put his World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight crown on the line against former world champion and mandatory challenger Juan Francisco Estrada (36-2, 25KOs) of Mexico.

In the non-televised portion of the slambang event, Nietes' compatriot and four-time world champion Brian ‘The Hawaiian Punch’ Viloria (38-5, 22KOs) will challenge the unbeaten No.1 contender Artem Dalakian of Ukraine (15-0, 11KOs) for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight strap. (FREEMAN)