Nietes outslugs Mexican foe to retain WBO title

Donnie `Ahas’ Nietes conquered Mexico anew by successfully defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight title over local bet Mario Rodriguez Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time). The 28-year-old Filipino dominated -- and bloodied -- the Mexican for most of their 12-round title bout in Sinaloa, Mexico, to run away with a unanimous decision and retain his 105-pound title belt for the fifth straight time. All three judges (Levi Martinez, Alejandro Lopez Cid and Thomas Nardone) saw the bout in favor of Nietes, a native of Murcia, Negros Occidental, but fighting out of the famed ALA Promotions boxing gym, scoring it 119-110, 118-110 and 116-112. This is the third time Nietes came over to Mexico to defend his belt. The first two also went through the scorecards, with the Filipino hacking out a unanimous decision over Erik Ramirez in February 2009 and then settling for a split decision against Manuel Vargas seven months later. Now he’s had enough of fighting in enemy’s territory. Shortly after easily disposing off Rodriguez, Nietes expressed his desire to have his next title defense in his hometown in Bacolod.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Nietes last fought in Negros Occidental in 2007, knocking out Thai Thongthailek Sor Tanapinyo in the second round of their 12-round showdown at the New Victorias City Coliseum. The Filipino raised his record to 27-1, with 15 KOs and hasn’t lost since his first career setback – a 10-round split decision - against Angky Angkota of Indonesia in 2004. Only 21, Rodriguez fell to 10-6 record overall, including seven KOs. Although the Mexican obviously has a more defined body than Nietes, he was simply no match to the ring craftsmanship of the former gym janitor-turned-world champion. The Filipino piled up the points early on by repeatedly scoring timely combination and uppercuts against the game challenger. A slight swelling began to mark Rodriguez’s face by the middle rounds, before Nietes bloodied the Mexican’s nose by rocking him with an overhand right in the eight round. “I knew I was able to hurt him as early as the first round," Nietes admitted later, reason why he believes he had the fight all under control. Sensing the fight is past slipping away from his grip, Rodriguez went all out in the last three rounds. He opened a cut on Nietes’s right eyebrow in the 10th, but not enough to cause damage on the reigning champion. “He's strong and tough as well," said Nietes of his Mexican foe. “But he never hurt me, although his left hook is really strong." With Nietes retaining his title, he and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao remain as the only legitimate Filipino world champion today, with the Pacman being the holder of the WBO welterweight belt.- RCJ, GMANews.TV