DEFENDING WBO light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes will be facing a new opponent in the main event of Pinoy Pride 20, just a little over a month before the card explodes on March 28 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.
Nietes was initially set to face Luis Ceja but recent developments changed this and the two-division champion Ilongo will instead duel tough Mexican Gilberto “Parrita” Parra.
The change was the result of the order of WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista Salas to start a negotiation between Nietes’ promoter, ALA Promotions Int’l headed by CEO Michael P. Aldeguer and Zanfer Promotions of
Fernando Beltran for Nietes’ mandatory title defense against minimum weight world champion Francisco Rodriguez Jr., as challenger.
Rodriguez Jr.’s camp however, declined the offer since the latter just came from a tough fight against Filipino Jomar Fajardo in their rematch held in Mexico.
“Rodriguez Jr. is not available for March 28 so Zanfer suggested Parra and WBO agreed to it. But we are still negotiating with Parra’s camp. Ceja has not signed the contract also,” Aldeguer told CDN.
The Nietes-Rodriguez showdown will now happen in July.
Parra sports a fearsome pro record of 19 wins with two losses. He has stopped 17 of his 19 opponents and is currently ranked No. 13 in his division.
One of Parra’s losses was inflicted by Martin Tecuapetla via a lopsided 10-round decision on Nov. 2, 2013. Tecuaptela is the same fighter who dropped a 10-round majority decision loss to against Milan Melindo in their clash for the WBO International title on May 10, 2014.
Fighting in the Pinoy Pride 30 co-main event is former five-division world champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire who will face Brazilian William Prado in the card promoted by ALA Promotions International, ABS-CBN and Top Rank Promotions.