Nietes Eager to State Case vs. Ex-Champ in 112-Pound Debut

The country’s longest-reigning world champion Donnie Nietes feels more comfortable now that he has climbed weight.

Nietes, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum weight (105 pounds) champion from September 2007 to March 2011 and the light flyweight (108 pounds) champion from October 2011 to the present, will be facing former world champion Edgar Sosa in Carson, California on Sept. 24 for the vacant WBO Inter Continental flyweight title.

“I feel much more comfortable now that I’ve started training in a higher weight. I mean, even when I was fighting at 108 pounds, I was training with bigger fighters. I think this is a much better weight for me. There’s not a lot of adjustment, but there’s more room for improvement. I want to be a better fighter still,” said the champion, who is 38-1-4 with 22 KOs.

After a draw with Mosies Fuentes in his defense of his WBO light flyweight crown last March 2, 2013, Nietes won his seven last fights, five by knockouts.

He also stopped Fuentes in their rematch last May 10, 2014.

And as his first test in the light flyweight division, he will be taking on a grizzled Mexican who lost his previous two attempts for a world title.

Solis is 52-9 with 30 KOs and was stopped by the dangerous Roman Gonzalez last May 16, 2015 when he fought for the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight crown.

He scored a unanimous decision win over Orlando Guerrero in his next fight last February.

“He’s Mexican. That means he is a tough fighter. From the beginning, Mexicans have proven they are one of the best kids there is,” said Nietes.

Nietes made a name for himself early in his career by winning three straight title defenses against Mexicans in Mexico, still the only Pinoy fighter to do so.

Sosa also was a former WBC light flyweight champion, winning the crown in two rounds against Omar Soto on Sept. 15, 2009 but he lost it in his first defense when he was knocked out by Cebuano Rodel Mayol.

“He’s a former world champion, current WBC No. 4 and he fought some of the best in his division, a division that I’m new at. I will be sure not to let my guard down and pour all what we’ve trained for because I know this won’t be an easy first flyweight for me,” said Nietes, whose only loss in his career was a controversial bum decision to Angky Angkota of Indonesia in his 13th fight.

To prepare for a tough debut, Nietes said he started his training earlier than usual.

“I felt I wouldn’t be at my best if I didn’t start sooner. Right now, I’ve done two weeks’ worth of sparring and more than 20 rounds in total. I would say the training is at the same level before but of course, we want to make sure that the speed, power and skills are in a higher level,” said Nietes, who is 14-0-1 in 15 world title fights.

This will be his second fight in the US and with ALA Promotions planning to hold more fights in the lucrative US boxing circuit, Nietes hopes to gain a foothold by impressing the fans.

“I get a lot of positive comments from the people who’ve waited for this move and it gives me so much encouragement. But I want to be very prepared too, that’s why I’ve decided to train earlier. I want to give a great fight as I make my 112-pound debut,” said Nietes.

Nietes, who turned 34 last May 13 and has been a world champion for the past eight years and 10 months, wants fans to know he still has a lot left in his tank.

“I Just want the people to know there’s a lot left in me. I feel great in my new weight. As a boxer, I still want to do and accomplish so much,” said Nietes. (PNA) RMA/EB/MP/EDS