Nietes' wish list: Solis, Thai WBC titlist

MANILA, Philippines – If he’d have his way, World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Donnie “Ahas" Nietes prefers a showdown with Mexican champ Ulises Solis or a crack at the more prestigious World Boxing Council title next. Interviewed Monday in the radio program Sports Chat aired over DZSR, Nietes said he’d like a chance to slug it out with reigning International Boxing Federation lightflyweight champ Solis, who was responsible for knocking out Filipinos Rodel Mayol and Bert Batawang. “May pangalan na siya (Solis) at gusto ko siyang makalaban. Paghahandaan ko iyan kung saka-sakali," Nietes said a day after disposing of Mexican challenger Erik Ramirez via unanimous decision in the latter’s hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico. Solis, though, is already booked to stake his crown against Fil-Am Brian Viloria next month at the Araneta Coliseum. The 26-year-old Nietes also said he fancies a shot at the WBC 105-lb. throne, currently held by undefeated Thai Oleydong Sithsanerchai. “Gusto ko rin ng prestigious belt," he said. “Kung maglalaban kami (Sithsanerchai), tingin ko kaya ko siya, base sa nalaman ko sa mga lumaban na kanya noon." That’s Nietes’ personal wish list but most likely, he is up to face another Mexican fighter next. According to boxing website fightnews.com, his handlers at the ALA Boxing Club of Cebu are arranging a title defense against Manuel Vargas. Vargas is the current interim WBO mini flyweight champion. The same report said ALA chief Tony Aldeguer is looking at a May date for the Nietes-Vargas tiff. Nietes is one of three legitimate world champions from the Philippines, along with IBF and IBO flyweight kingpin Nonito Donaire, Jr. and WBO bantamweight holder Gerry Peñalosa. Manny Pacquiao, the Ring Magazine’s best pound-for-pound fighter, has formally relinquished his WBC lightweight belt but is gunning for Ricky Hatton’s IBO lightwelterweight crown in their May 2 matchup. Hailing from Murcia, Bacolod City, Nietes won the WBO minimumweight title in 2007 when he hacked out a unanimous decision win over then undefeated Pornawarn Katingdaenggym of Thailand. He successfully defended the crown 11 months after, knocking out Eddie Castro. Against Ramirez last Sunday, Nietes was all business despite fighting in enemy territory. He battered the Mexican challenger with a barrage of punches, including a big right hand that sent Ramirez down to the canvass. Two more solid rights in the fifth and ninth rounds had Ramirez going down again late into the fight. At the end of the 12-round bout, all three judges had Nietes winning by scores of 115-109, 116-108, and 113-111. - GMANews.TV