Nietes banks on experience; PALICTE CONfiDENT OF KO WIN
Three-division world champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes (41-1-4, 23KOs) of Cebu’s fabled ALA Gym will bank on his vast experience when he battles fellow countryman Aston
‘Mighty’ Palicte, (24-2, 20KOs) for the
vacant WBO super flyweight title in the slambang “Superfly 3” card this Saturday night (Sunday Phl time) at the Forum in Los Angeles,
California.
Nietes said Palicte is younger, taller and bigger than him but he firmly believes that his ring maturity gleaned on his nearly two decades of boxing journey will make a difference as he goes after his fourth world crown in a different weight class.
Interestingly, both are Negrense. Nietes hails from Murcia, Negros Occidental while Palicte comes from Bago City in the same province.
“I know Aston is taller and younger than me, but I know how to fight tall fighters and my experience will be a big factor in the fight. I am happy for this fight and the exposure that it will bring me,” Nietes told reporters during their recent media workout with Palicte at the Wild Card Gym owned by Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in Hollywood.
“There are a lot of good fighters in the super flyweight division and I look forward to fighting Juan Francisco Estrada if we both win on Saturday Sept. 8 (Sept 9. Phl time) at the Forum,” added Nietes.
The 36-year-old Nietes must brace for an all-out war through against Palicte, who is brimming with confidence he could deliver a knockout victory.
“I am the stronger, faster fighter in this bout and I need to take advantage of my height and reach. I believe I can knockout Nietes and make a name for myself with this win. If not by knockout I will get a decision. This is a fantastic fight for all Filipino boxing fans and we will continue the great tradition of Filipino boxing into the ring,” said Palicte, who is nine years younger than Nietes.
The Nietes-Palicte duel in the second all-Filipino world championship bout in just four months and third overall in the annals of Philippine boxing.
Last May at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California, Jerwin”Pretty Boy” Ancajas outpointed Nietes’ stablemate Jonas “Zorro” Sultan to retain his IBF junior bantamweight crown.
The first world title match involving Pinoy boxers took place 93 years ago when Pancho Villa defended his flyweight throne against Clever Sencio in 1925 in Manila.