Mexican vows to unseat Nietes this Saturday in PP31

PINOY PRIDE 31 FINAL PRESSCON:Donnie “AHAS” Nietes of the ALA gym pose with his challenger from Mexico Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez for the WBO World Jr Flyweight Championship of the Pinoy Pride 31 at Waterfront hotel.(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

A new king will rise

The sabre rattling between the visiting Mexican boxers and their Filipino rivals has intensified with both camps predicting quick victories this Saturday night in the highly-anticipated Pinoy Pride 31: Clash of World Champions at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The word war erupted when Mexicans Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez Jr. (17-2-1,11KOs) the WBO world minimumweight champion and Rafael “El Guerrerito” Reyes (16-4, 12KOs) boasted that they would be the ones left standing in the ring come fight night.

“A new king will rise,” shouted Rodriguez right after their intense staredown with Nietes.

The flamboyant 21-year old Rodriguez will battle defending WBO light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (35-1-4,21KOs) while Reyes meets Boholano unbeaten prospect Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (10-0, 8KOs), respectively.

“I respect all the Mexican boxers you defeated, they are all good boxers,” Rodriguez told Nietes, “but you have not fought a boxer like me. Mexicans have balls,” Rodriguez said during yesterday’s final press conference for PP31 at the Aegean Room of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
12TH MEXICAN VICTIM

The cocky Mexican also told the media last Thursday that Nietes will not know what to do when he starts attacking.
Of course the boast did not escape the agitated Pinoys.

“Sigurado ko siya ang ika dose nga Mexicano nga ma biktima nako sa ring. Kung iyaha kung atakehon ako pud siya i-counter. Oo 33 years old nako pero ang condition sa akong lawas ug akong kusog pareho ra ug 21 years old,” Nietes countered.

Nietes and Rodriguez Jr. were only a seat apart during their verbal tussle yesterday, separated only by ALA Promotions International CEO Michael P. Aldeguer.

Reyes also did not mince words when he vowed to send Magsayo to sleep in their 12-round showdown for the vacant IBF Youth Featherweight title in the co-main event.

Reyes told Magsayo that he is here to show the latter what Mexican ring warriors are made of.

“I hope you will not run inside the ring,” was Reyes’ taunt as the Mexican said he is very confident of beating Magsayo that this early he is already looking forward to fighting IBF inter-continental junior featherweight champion “Prince” Albert Pagara.

Infuriated by the insult, Magsayo retorted, “Mag agi usa siya nako. Kahibaw kaayo ko nga kaya kaayo nako siya unya sigurado pud ko nga daug jud ko aning duwaa.”

WEIGH-IN TODAY

Nietes and Rodriguez Jr. will meet again today for the card’s official weigh-in at 11 a.m. at the Event Center of SM City Cebu where verbal fireworks are again expected.

Also to be featured in the card will be Kevin Jake Cataraja in his pro debut against Ardi Tefa of Indonesia and the cruiser weight duel between Mexicans Jorge Kahwagi vs. Ramon Alejandro Olivas.