NIETES FACES THAI ON APRIL 29 IN CEBU
Donnie Nietes to face Krungthepthonburi for IBF flyweight belt Two-division Pinoy champ hopes to gain a world title in a third division Mark Magsayo, Jeo Santisima also included in Pinoy Pride 40 card
Donnie Nietes will be fighting at home.
The 34-year-old Nietes guns for his third division world crown against Thai Eaktawan Mor Krungthepthonburi for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt in the main event of Pinoy Pride 40 on April 29 here in Cebu City at a yet-to-be-determined venue.
“We are happy that his fight for his third division will be here so that the fight will be fair. Because we have see with what happened with Jerusalem, who could have won his fight (in Thailand),” Nietes’ coach Edmund Villamor told SunStar Cebu.
Nietes, rated No. 3 in the IBF, and Eaktawan, ranked No. 4, earned the opportunity to fight for the belt after Johnriel Casimero vacated the belt.
Nietes won his first world title here in Cebu City 10 years ago, earning the vacant World Boxing Organization ( WBO) minimumweight belt with a unanimous victory over Pornsawan Porpramook.
Nietes, 39-1-4 with 22 knockouts, is coming off a successful debut at flyweight with a lopsided unanimous verdict against former world champion Edgar Sosa last September in Carson City, California.
The 27-year-old Eaktawan, 22-3 with 15 knockouts, has won 15 straight fights since losing to Froiland Saludar in 2013.
Eaktawan has fought here in the Philippines twice and also lost to Nietes’ teammate Albert Pagara back in 2012 by a second-round knockout. /