Donnie Nietes (left) and Norbelto Jimenez (right). CDN File Photo and Facebook Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The longest-reigning Filipino boxing world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes will face world-rated Norbelto “Meneito” Jimenez of the Dominican Republic for a world title eliminator duel on December 11, 2021 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nietes, also a four-division world champion and the current World Boxing Organization (WBO) international super flyweight champion, will make his debut with Probellum after signing with the latter in October.
Edmund Villamor, Nietes’s trainer, confirmed to CDN Digital that his prized boxer would be facing the younger Jimenez who fought for the world title twice.
Nietes’ and Jimenez’s will square off for the WBA super flyweight world title eliminator.
The winner earns a world title shot against the reigning champion Juan Francisco Estrada, who Nietes has been yearning to fight way back when he was still with ALA Boxing Gym.
For the 39-year-old Nietes, it will be his first time to return in the ring in nine months following his unanimous decision victory against Colombian Pablo Carrillo for the WBO regional title last April in Dubai, UAE, under another promoter.
Nevertheless, Nietes, the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental kept himself busy at the gym in Mandaue City, Cebu.
He has been sparring with bigger boxers such as Albert Pagara and Jeo Santisima under Villamor’s supervision.
Meanwhile, Jimenez, who is rated No. 5 in WBA and No 8. in WBC, hasn’t fought this year. His most previous bout was in December 2020 in Dominican Republic against Nicaraguan Marvin Solano where he won by unanimous decision.
Nietes (43-1-5, 23 knockouts) is rated No. 4 in the WBA, No. 6 in WBC, and No. 2 in the WBO rankings.
Experiencewise, Nietes once dominated four weight classes in the minimumweight, junior flyweight, flyweight, and super flyweight divisions and held a world title for 11 years, the longest in Philippine boxing history.
On the other hand, Jimenez (30-9-5,16KOs) has fought for a world title twice, but faltered in both occasions.
His first crack for a world title in 2014 against Japanese Kohei Kono finished with a draw while his second attempt in 2019 against Khalid Yafai came up short when he lost to the latter via unanimous decision.
Their world title eliminator duel is an undercard bout in the double-header world title showdowns promoted by Probellum featuring two Filipino ring warriors in John Riel Casimero and Jayson Mama.
Casimero will defend his WBO world bantamweight title against British Paul Butler while Mama challenges another British boxer, Sunny Edwards who is the IBF world flyweight champion.
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