Nietes TKOs Mexican foe, extends title reign

CEBU CITY — Donnie Nietes displayed the prowess worthy for big fights with a one-sided win that is expected to cement his place as the longest reigning Filipino world champion of all-time.

Nietes retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior flyweight crown with a seventh round TKO of Mexican challenger Carlos Velarde in this bustling city Saturday night, paving the way for a promising future for the 32-year- old fighter.

The bout ended after the seventh round of the main event held in front of an animated crowd at the Waterfront Hotel here when Velarde was forced to quit following a clash of heads that left the visitor with a nasty cut in his left eyebrow.

With Velarde an image of a bloodied fighter in his stool, veteran referee Rob- ert Byrd signaled for the end of the bout in an anticlimactic finish that gave Nietes, who has been a world champion in two weight divisions since 2007, a clear path to break the record of the great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde in January.

Other than the record, Nietes made Velarde a stepping stone for his impending Valentine’s Day fight at a bigger stage in Macau and a move to the 112-lb flyweight division to join an abundance of great boxers like Roman Gonzales and Juani Francisco Estrada.

Nietes, who brought his ring record to 34-1-4 with 20 knockouts, wouldn’t mind facing either fighter but made clear who he wants to fight.

“I think it’s Estrada,” said Nietes of Estrada, who is scheduled to face Rocky Fuentes next week. “I like his fighting style because he attacks a lot and I believe I can hit him.”