The Filipino boxers fighting in the Pinoy Pride 28: History in the Making card (from left) ex-world champ Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo, Milan “El Metodico” Milendo, world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, ALA Promotions president Michael P. Aldeguer, “Prince” Albert Pagara, AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
History beckons Donnie “Ahas” Nietes as he banners Pinoy Pride 28: History in the Making on Nov. 15 at the grand ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Nietes will not only be eyeing to defend his WBO Lightflyweight crown, the soft-spoken Ilongo will also attempt to break the record of the legendary Gabriel “Flash” Elorde as the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion.
The Cebuano Elorde reigned at the top of the lightflyweight throne for seven years, just two months longer than Nietes’ reign. And a win by the latter in the main event of PP28 will assure him of surpassing the mark.
Also, from a supposed defense of his WBO Inter-continental flyweight belt, former world title challenger Milan “El Metodico” Melindo (31-1, 12KOs) will now fight in a mandatory title eliminator for the IBF light flyweight belt against Saul Juarez (20-3,11KOs) of Mexico in the co-main event.
Melindo is currently ranked IBF No. 5 light flyweight while Juarez is No. 8. The winner will face reigning IBF world light flyweight king Javier Mendoza (22-2-1, 18KOs).
“This is what Cebuano boxing fans are waiting for. A lot of them have been asking when I will be fighting in Cebu. I’ll make sure to do my best,” said Melindo who will move down to the lightfly division from the regular flyweight.
Nietes (33-1-4, 19KOs) on the other hand, will fight Carlos Velarde (26-3-1, 14KOs) according to Michael P. Aldeguer, president of ALA Int’l Promotions.
According to Aldeguer, Velarde of Mexico’s Zanfer Promotions only has to sign the contract to finalize the fight. “It’s 99 percent sure that Velarde will fight Nietes. If he already signed the contract then it’s done” said the young boxing promoter during the card’s launching yesterday at the Rajah Park Hotel
Aldeguer also said that they decided to stage the fight back in Cebu because they owe it to the local boxing fans who have been very supportive of the successful boxing series since its humble beginnings.
He added that PP28 will be the last fight card they will promote for 2014. He also bared that there will be eight Pinoy Pride cards to be promoted next year in Dubai, the United States and here.
Others fighting in the PP28 card are unbeaten Prince Albert Pagara (21-0, 15KOs) who will make a mandatory defense of his IBF Intercontinental bantamweight belt against Raul Hirales (22-3-1, 11KOs) of Mexico; former WBO minimum weight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo (23-1-1, 12KOS); former world title challenger AJ “Bazooka” Banal (31-2-1, 22KOs) and the promising Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (8-0,6KOs).
“I am ready to regain the name and the title that I lost,” said Sabillo who lost his title to Francisco Rodriguez Jr. via 10th round knockout in Mexico last December.