Palicte says Nietes can’t take his power

Aston Palicte brushed aside Donnie Nietes’ vast experience as a three-division world champion and said his power will make the difference when they clash for the vacant WBO superflyweight title on HBO’s “Superfly 3” bill at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on Sept. 8.

“I don’t think Nietes can take my power,” said Palicte, who has chalked up 11 first round KOs in compiling a record of 24-2 with a KO rate of 83.3 percent, in Pilipino. “Nietes is moving up in weight and started out as a 105-pounder. It’s his first time in the superflyweight division and I’m sure his body isn’t used to bulking up so fast.” The WBO picked Nietes, ranked No. 1, and Palicte, ranked No. 3, to dispute the 115-pound throne that was vacated by Japan’s Naoya Inoue.

Palicte’s manager Jason Soong said the fight will come down to physics. “It’s hard to believe that Aston is a superflyweight because he’s 5-8 with a reach of 68 inches,” he said. “Making weight is no problem for Aston who’s not even dieting. He’s walking around at 123. There’s a reason why some big superflyweight names like Juan Francisco Estrada and Chocolatito Gonzalez don’t want to fight Aston. They think he’s too strong. When Manny (Pacquiao) fought (Floyd) Mayweather, Aston was supposed to be in the undercard but a week before, our fight was cancelled. We never knew why.”

For battling Nietes, Palicte will be paid a purse of $25,000 – the biggest since he turned pro in 2010. His previous high was $7,500. “Aston never asks for more,” said Soong. “He knows the money will come when he wins the world title. We’ve been through a lot of difficulties in our eight years together but now that we’re promoted by Roy Jones in the US, things are coming together. We met Roy through his matchmaker Guy Taylor whom we were referred to by Joven Jimenez’ friend Kei Nideira, a Japanese trainer.”

Nietes left his Cebu base for Los Angeles yesterday while Palicte leaves with stablemate Lolito Sonsona tomorrow. In L. A., Palicte will hook up with former WBC lightflyweight champion Rodel Mayol, his trainer when he stopped Mexico’s Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in the fifth round in Texas last December. Against Nietes, Mayol will be in Palicte’s corner with Soong, conditioning coach Jaako Bernardo and a cutman to be designated by Dr. Ed de la Vega.

“I’m not impressed by Nietes’ experience,” said Palicte. “I’m nine years younger and he’s on the way down while I’m on the way up. When I was with the Philippine national team, I trained and fought in Cuba, Mexico, Thailand and other countries. I’m also very experienced. I never won a gold medal as an amateur so I decided to turn pro. My father Edmundo, a retired sports coordinator with the City Hall in Bago, taught me how to box when I was nine and my brother Vincent, who’s now 32, taught me how to use technique. I used to be all power but Vincent made me an all-around fighter with footwork, head movement, defense and tactics. My favorite fighter is Floyd Mayweather because he’s smart and skilled. He makes you fight his fight, not yours. That’s why I don’t watch videos of my opponents. I don’t care what my opponents do in the ring. What’s important is I fight my fight and let my opponents react to the way I fight.”

One of nine children, Palicte said he hasn’t seen his wife Kristine and their 10-month-old boy Diego Liam in over a month. His family lives in Bukindon. Palicte trained in J. C. Manangquil’s Sanman gym in General Santos City for three weeks under Mayol, who flew in from Los Angeles, then moved to Manila for more workouts. One of Palicte’s advisers is former two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa.