ALA keeps options open

ALA Promotions are keeping their options open for International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight king Donnie Neites's mandatory title defense against former world champion Juan Carlos Reveco.

"We are open to fighting anywhere. Either late October or mid November," Nietes's promoter, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, told SunStar Cebu.

ALA Promotions wants to promote Nietes's fight here in the Philippines but they are also willing to fight in Argentina, Reveco's backyard.

"We are open to fighting in Argentina or anywhere but we'll still see if we can bring the fight to the Philippines," said Aldeguer. "We haven't started talking yet. We are looking at Manila, Davao, Bacolod or Cebu."

The 35-year-old Nietes isn't a stranger at fighting in enemy territory. He achieved a very dif- ficult task of defending a world title in Mexico against a Mexican three times. Nietes defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) mini-flyweight belt against Erik Ramirez and Manuel Vargas in 2009, beating them by unanimous decision and split decision respectively. The following year, he beat Mario Rodriguez by unanimous decision to successfully defend his belt three times.

Another option also for Nietes is to fight in neutral ground.

"Right now it's 50/50 as they also want to bring the fight to Argentina. However, because of the popularity and reputation of Donnie, we also have other promoters from the US, Japan and China wanting to stage the fight of Donnie in their country maybe hoping for a future fight with Donnie," he said. "We have not talked about the details yet but they sent som feelers."

Nietes, a three division world champion, won the vacant IBF flyweight belt with a convincing unanimous decision win over Komgrich Nantapech at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City last April.

Reveco, a two-division world champion, earned mandatory challenger status last weekend after a lopsided unanimous decision over Nantapetch.

The 34-year-old Argentinian is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight and light flyweight champion. He has fought and beat the likes of Jean Piero Perez, Ricardo Nuñez, Juan Francisco Centeno and Felix Alvarado. His losses were against Japanese star Kazuto Ioka, twice, and Brahim Asloum.

"He's tough so it should be an interesting fight against Nietes," said Aldeguer.

Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion, is 40-1-4 with 22 knockouts, while Reveco is 39-3 with 19 knockouts./