Nietes defeats Alejo, wants Gonzalez next
Nietes beats Pinky in 12; 4 other Pinoys win bouts in Pinoy Pride 33 in US
CARSON, California—Donnie Nietes introduced himself as one of the best fighters in boxing’s lower weight divisions, putting on a boxing clinic against granite-chinned Mexican challenger Juan “Pinky” Alejo in the main event of Pinoy Pride 33 - “Philippines vs. the World” Sunday (PHL time) at the StubHub Center. It was his US debut. Though he didn’t get the knockout that a predominantly Filipino crowd was waiting for, the 33-year-old Nietes punished Alejo with a wide array of punches and combinations.
As early as the second round, Alejo’s face looked like it had already been through war, with his face red and puffy, and a cut over his right cheek.
Nietes landed his signature bone-crunching uppercuts with ease the whole fight, which wobbled Alejo every time it landed. He also threw some beautiful combinations, which included a hook to the body followed by a hook to the head that landed every now and then.
Alejo had a few moments in the fight, wherein he lured Nietes to brawl with him. It, however, wasn’t enough to earn the judges’ nod.
Judge Lou Moret saw Nietes winning all 12 rounds 120-108, while judges Pat Russell and Marshall Walker scored it 119109 also for the longest-reigning Filipino world champion.
“It was a perfect fight but Alejo was very tough. He also throws a strong overhand punch,” said Nietes after the eighth title defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight crown.
After the impressive win, Nietes made sure that everyone knew who he wanted to fight next, pound-for-pound king Roman Gonzalez, who just stopped Brian Viloria in the ninth round on the other side of the country.
“I want to fight Roman Gonzalez. I want to fight him next,” he said.
Nietes remained the best 108-pounder in the world and improved to 37-1-4 with 21 knockouts, while WBO rated No. 8 Alejo saw his 21-fight streak end and dropped to 21-4 with 13 knockouts.
Albert Pagara (25-0, 18 KOs) knocked out tough Nicaraguan William Gonzalez (27-6, 23 KOs) in the sixth round of a scheduled 12-rounder for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental super bantamweight belt.
It was a good test for the 21-year-old unbeaten prospect because Gonzalez was tough as nails. Albert dropped him in the second round but an extra punch to a downed Gonzalez caused him a one-point deduction.
The point deduction, however, didn’t matter because he rocked Gonzalez a couple of times in the next few rounds before dropping him with a right straight to the head that forced referee Jack Reiss to wave off the bout in the 2:20 mark.
“I’m ready for a world title,” said Albert. “It’s just about training hard and having the discipline.”
Mark Magsayo (12-0, 10 KOs) didn’t waste any time as he demolished erstwhile undefeated Yardley Suarez (13-1, 8 KOs) in the opening round of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Youth featherweight title defense.
The 20-year-old Magsayo floored Suaraz with a flurry before dropping him down for good in the 2:00 mark with another set of vicious combinations.
Jason Pagara (37-2, 23 KOs) made easy work of Nicaraguan brawler Santos Benavides (27-62, 19 KOs), stopping him in the 2:53 mark of the second round.
Jason knocked down Benavides twice before finishing him off with a left hook-right straight combination.
California-based Cebuano Bruno Escalante (14-1-1, 6 KOs) had a successful ring return following a long layoff due to a hand injury, with a unanimous decision (60-54, 5955, 59-55) win over Mexican Nestor Ramos (6-2-1, 2 KOs) in the show’s curtain-raiser.