Nietes wants to join Elorde, Villa as longest-reigning Pinoy champs

Donnie Nietes isn't thinking about becoming the next best-pound-for-pound fighter or become a seven-division champion like Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Instead, the pride of Bacolod City wants to join the elite cast of legendary Filipino boxers, who reigned supreme in their respective divisions for a long period of time. "Donnie wants to achieve what the great Flash Elorde and the legendary Pancho Villa have accomplished," said Nietes' trainer Edmund Villamor. "He wants to become a reigning champion for a long period of time." Elorde was the longest-reigning Filipino champion, holding the World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight championship for seven years and three months (March 16, 1960-June 15, 1967).

Jesus "The Hawaiian Punch" Salud came in next, being the holder of the World Boxing Association (WBA) super featherweight title for six years and 11 months. Villa, who died at an early age of 24, held the world championship for four years in a total of 106 bouts, including 92 wins from 1920 to 1925. For the 28-year-old Nietes, the 105-lb, minimum weight division, is his comfortable weight class and he showed that when he dominated his past 13 rivals capped by his unanimous decision win over Pornsawan Porpramook nearly three years ago for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum weight crown. To date, Nietes, who worked as a janitor at the Ala Boxing Gym before getting his big break seven years ago, is the only third world boxing champion. The other two are Pacquiao and world women's boxing champion Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton. Nietes was able to defend his title three times, including a sensational 10th round technical knockout victory over Jesus Silvestre early this year at the Astrodome in Pasay City. His next title defense, a 12-round championship bout against Mario Rodriguez on August 14, will be held at the Polideportivo Centenario, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. Nietes is pumped up and focused. He has spared for a total of 300 rounds and has started his training for several months now. "We trained in Cebu. We ran through an uphill route there, so my conditioning is good. I don't think I will peak too soon because I'm currently winding up my training routine now," Nietes told GMANews.TV. Nietes to wind up training at Wild Card gym The Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, California, a training venue for champions like Pacquiao and Julaton, will also be made available for Nietes in his preparation against Rodriguez. "Coach Freddie Roach has been helpful to us Filipinos and he has helped Filipino boxers fighting in world championships," said Nietes, who has a total of 26 wins, including 15 knockouts, one loss and three draws. From Los Angeles, Nietes and his camp will travel to Mexico. Mexico has produced world-class boxers and champions the previous years. The former Spanish colony is also a danger zone for those Pinoys competing there, most of them having little success. But not Nietes, who's been successful in his two trips here and winning his bouts over Manuel Vargas and Erik Ramirez, respectively, and doing a great job silencing the Mexican crowd. "I’m used to it. We're no stranger fighting in Mexico, so I know what to do come fight time against Rodriguez," said Nietes. JVP, GMANews.TV