WITH fight night drawing near, five division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. and two division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes are nothing less than impressive in their latest sparring sessions in Metro Manila.
Both decorated boxers will co-headline Pinoy Pride 30: D-Day on March 28 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Jonel Alibio is the latest sparring partner to taste the brunt of Donaire’s (33-3, 21KOs) power when he went down in their sparring at the ALA Gym in Quezon City last Tuesday. Donaire’s last sparring partner before he left California, Cisco
Sandoval was also knocked down by the Filipino who is seeking to make an impressive comeback after suffering a six-round KO loss to Jamaican Alex Walters.
In a report posted in Philboxing.com, Alibio who is a former Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight champion, suffered several hard punches to the head and body and refused to continue fighting.
Alibio believes that Donaire will become a champion again.
Donaire meanwhile, said that he is ready for his 12-round battle against Brazilian William Prado (22-4-1, 15KOs) in the co-main event of PP30 with the NABF super bantamweight title at stake. Donaire is also excited about his upcoming trip to Cebu on March 9 for a two-week trainiing against some of the stars of ALA Boxing Gym. His father, Nonito Sr., acts as his trainer.
World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight king Nietes (34-1-4, 20KOs) on the other hand, also showed impressive form in sparring sessions against super bantamweight Ralph Lulu and John Virgil Vitor.
Nietes reportedly easily outboxed his heavier sparring partners indicating that the longest reigning world champion is very determined to defend his title against Mexican knockout artist Gilberto Parra (19-2, 17KOs).
Meanwhile, ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer said that they decided to change the venue of Pinoy Pride 30: D-Day from the SM Mall of Asia Arena to the Smart Araneta Coliseum because the latter hosted some of the memorable fights of the late Gabriel Elorde who once held the record as the longest-reigning Pinoy champion
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