Bigger bounty awaits Nietes in US debut

CARSON CITY, CALIFORNIA — A bigger bounty awaits Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes if he successfully hurdles his US debut against Mexican Juan 'Pinky' Alejo two days from now.

This as ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael Aldeguer has confirmed that they are now in talks for a possible megabuck showdown between Nietes and the newly-crowned pound-for-pound king Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez of Nicaragua.

"Yes, I've already had talks with K2 Promotions, the promoter of Gonzalez, as well as a representative from HBO and they are interested in a fight with Nietes. Nietes also wants the fight, and we want the fight," said Aldeguer, who has done an exceptionally good job since taking over the mantle of his illustrious father Antonio 'Bidoy' L. Aldeguer in running the affairs of the country's premiere promotional outfit.

“But with due respect to Alejo, we are not thinking about that fight right now. Nietes will be facing Alejo this Saturday and he has to win that fight first. You'll never know the outcome and Alejo has nothing to lose,” Aldeguer added.

Aldeguer's revelation will surely jack up the fighting drive of Nietes when he defends his WBO light flyweight crown against Alejo in the historic Pinoy Pride event on Saturday night (Sunday morning Philippine time) at the StubHub Center here.

"That is one big fight I am looking forward to," said the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion. "But I have to take care first of Alejo. That is something that I should focus on at the moment."

Like Nietes, Gonzalez also has to take care first of his WBC flyweight title defense against former three-time world champion Brian Viloria, also this Saturday at the Madison Square Garden in New York, for the mouthwatering bout to happen.

Interestingly, the two great warriors who are on a collision course fought together against Mexican foes in one card in Oaxaca, Mexico on February 28, 2009 where Nietes retained his WBO minimumweight crown against Erik Ramirez of Mexico, while Gonzalez kept his WBA 105-pound belt against Miguel Tellez.—