Donnie Nietes breaks into The Ring’s top 10

Donnie Nietes. BOXING SCENE

MANILA – Donnie Nietes became the third Filipino boxer to make it to top 10 pound-for-pound list of The Ring magazine.

The Murcia, Negros Occidental native ranked No. 9 in the magazine’s best fighters in the world, joining the likes of eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.

Malaking challenge para sa akin na mapabilang sa pound-for-pound list ng The Ring magazine,” Nietes said. “Hindi biro para sa boxer ang magpalipat-lipat ng weight class.”

Pangarap ko maging world champion sa four weight divisions at makalaban ang mga big names sa super flyweight,” he added. “Panibagong challenge sa akin ito at mabuti na lang at nandyan ang ALA Promotions para sumuporta.”

The huge feat comes as Nietes prepares for a world title clash against fellow Negrense Aston Palicte later this year.

“It’s a great accomplishment, considering where Donnie came from,” said ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer. “[From] a janitor to a three-division world champion, the longest Filipino world champion, and now in the top 10 pound-for-pound best fighters in the world.”

Nietes, 36, has not lost in 33 consecutive fights since succumbing to a disputed split decision at the hands of Indonesian Angky Angkota, who weighed 6 pounds over the limit, in Jakarta in 2004. His record is now 41-1-4 with 23 knockouts.

“He has a chance to become a four-division world champion on Aug. 18,” Aldeguer added. “What makes Donnie great are his attitude, hard work and humility, which should be an example to all young fighters out there.”/PN

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