Nietes-Vargas rendezvous gets real

By Edri K. Aznar

AFTER three scheduled dates that were postponed for different reasons, World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight king Donnie Nietes’ much anticipated world title bout against interim champion Manuel Vargas will finally happen.

Following three postponements, Nietes will finally be seeing action in Top Rank’s top-billed boxing series “Latin Fury” on Sept. 12 in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico.

“I’m 99.5 percent sure that it will push through,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday in an interview.

The Nietes-Vargas showdown was originally set on May 16 and was moved to July 18 because of the A(H1N1) scare in Mexico. It was then rescheduled to Aug. 1, but was postponed anew after the local sponsors backed out.

Due to the delay, Nietes’ training had been jeopardized, but now the 27-year-old ALA fighter is in top condition to face Vargas.

“Donnie had a hard time initially because of the postponement, but he has adjusted for the Sept. 12 fight. The contract has been signed,” said Aldeguer.

So far, Nietes has been having a good training camp at the Wild Card Gym in California. He has been sparring with a couple of Mexican fighters and with Filipino world title contender Rodel Mayol.

“He has had good sparring with Mayol. Mayol is a pretty good fighter and is a huge help,” said Aldeguer.

Aldeguer said that Nietes is taking this fight very seriously as this could be his stepping stone for bigger fights in the future.

“He knows how big this fight is. Vargas is a respected fighter. It will be a tough fight for Donnie, tougher than his fight with Ramirez. Vargas has fought good fighters,” he said. “This will be a good break for Donnie. He has worked hard. He hasn’t been given the recognition that he deserves.”

If Nietes wins this fight against Vargas, there would be a possibility that he would move up a division higher, the light flyweight category, wherein ALA Promotions is looking at pitting him with either World Boxing Association light flyweight titleholder Giovanni Segura or World Boxing Organization light flyweight titlist Ivan Calderon. Former world champion Ulises Solis, Nietes’ dream match, is also considered.

Aldeguer said that “Latin Fury” is a big card because it will be headlined by some of the biggest Mexican fighters like Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr. and Mexican world champion Fernando Montiel. The card will also include ALA star Z Gorres.

Aldeguer said the showdown will be shown in the Philippines via GMA-7 and Solar Sports.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on August 20, 2009.