MANILA – Negrense Donnie Nietes is going for an impressive win. He battles Norbelto Jimenez of the Dominican Republic in the WBA super flyweight division eliminator on Dec. 11 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The clash will be vital for the career of the Murcia, Negros Occidental-native Nietes. He hopes to have another shot at the world championship against WBA super flyweight super champion Juan Francisco Estrada and regular champion Joshua Franco.
Nietes is a four-division world boxing champion. He came from an impressive unanimous decision victory over Colombian Pablo Carrillo for the WBO international super flyweight belt in April this year.
“I am looking forward to fighting again soon so that I can continue to show my boxing abilities and technique,” said Nietes, who recently signed a promotional contract with Probellum.
Probellum president Richard Schaefer, for his part, expressed confidence that the 39-year-old Nietes has what it takes to dominate Jimenez and fight for another world championship.
“We have seen the lower weight classes finally receive the praise they deserve in recent years, and Donnie Nietes is a key part of that stacked super-flyweight division,” Schaefer said.
He added: “Donnie has already won world titles in four divisions, making him a true legend of the sport, and we’re proud to now be working together as we look to help him claim world honors again in the near future.”
Nietes, a former standout of the ALA Boxing Gym, will be entering the ring with 43-1-5 win-loss-draw ring record, including 23 victories by way of stoppages, while Jimenez has 30-9-5 slate, with 16 KO wins.
This boxing event in Dubai is headlined by Filipino John Riel Casimero, defending his 118-pound world title against tough British challenger Paul Butler (33-2, 15 KO’s) of Cheshire, England.
Also featured is Filipino Jayson Mama (16-0, 8 KO’s) of General Santos City, challenging for the world title against British defending IBF Flyweight world champion Sunny Edwards (16-0, 4 KO’s) of London./PN
