Nietes vs. Rodriguez spearheads Pinoy Pride 31 fight card

THE CAST of boxers fighting in the Pinoy Pride 31: Clash of World Champions on July 4 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino is complete.

Leading the list of bouts will be that of two-division world champion and reigning WBO light flyweight world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes  (35-1-4, 21KOs)  and WBO minimum weight world champion Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez Jr.  (17-2-1, 11KOs).

Also seeing action will be some of the country’s fast-rising prospects such as Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and  amateur standout Kevin Jake “KJ” Cataraja.

Cataraja, a multiple gold medalist in regional and national meets in the country, finally got a worthy opponent in his debut as a professional boxer  as he takes on Indonesian Ardi “Predator” Tefa for a six-round fight in the 112-pound division.

Tefa has already fought ten times, winning six, four by knockout, and losing four.

Nietes, meanwhile, will put his WBO light-flyweight title at stake against Rodriguez Jr. in the main event.

Magsayo  (10-0, 8KOs), who is touted as one of the future stars of Philippine boxing, will also stake his unbeaten record against his first Mexican opponent, Rafael “Guerrito” Reyes (16-4, 12KOs) in a 126-pound fight.

Former world title challenger Roli “Zuma” Gasca (22-6-1, 6KOs) will also try to redeem himself from a loss last year as he fights South Korean Nam Joon Lee (8-4-3, 4KOs) for eight rounds in the 126-pound division.

Gasca lost to South African Lusandi Komanisi in South Africa last year in a fight for the IBO world featherweight title via a controversial split decision.

In other fights, Vic “Vicious” Saludar faces Michael Kaibigan; Elmo “Bisdak” Traya takes on Gabriel Royo; Virgel “Valiente” Vitor fights Carlo Demecillo; while Raul “Vulcan” Yu battles Richard “Smiley” Sueño.