Gonzalez issues challenge to Nietes

The possibility of fighting former pound-for-pound king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez is always a welcome thought for Donnie Nietes.

Although that is his ‘dream fight’, the 35-year-old Nietes has his focus on one man alone, and that is Juan Carlos Reveco, who he’ll be defending his International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt this weekend at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

“Yes, (we want) all the big fights. But Donnie still has to win on Feb. 24 before thinking what’s next,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told SunStar Cebu. “We have not thought about that yet as Donnie is focused on Feb. 24, he knows he has a tough fight against Reveco.”

According to Boxingscene.com, Gonzelez has shown interest in facing Nietes for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight belt that was recently relinquished by Naoya Inoue as he moves up to bantamweight. Gonzalez’s camp wants the fight in June in Managua, Nicaragua.

Aldeguer, however, made it clear that they won’t be fighting in enemy territory.

“We have not really thought about that yet. At this stage of Donnie’s career, he wants to fight all the big names including Reveco, who is a two-division world champion. It’s a tough fight for both on Feb. 24. All I can say is that Donnie will not be fighting in anyone’s hometown. All the big fights should be in neutral ground,” he said.

Gonzalez, a three-division world champion and once one of the most feared fighters in the lower weight classes, has been on a funk. He has lost back-to-back contests against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai last year. /