THE RING. WBO world light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (center) proudly shows the diamond encrusted “Super Champions Ring” he received from WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel (right). With them is ALA International Promotions President/CEO Michael Aldeguer.
(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
FOR BEING the longest reigning Filipino boxing world champion, the 33-year old Donnie “Ahas” Nietes was given the Super Champions Ring yesterday by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
WBO chief Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel personally handed over the diamond-encrusted gold ring decorated with rare stones to the 33-year-old Murcia, Negros Occidental native yesterday after the official weigh-in of the Ilonggo’s world-title defense against WBO world minimum weight champ Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez Jr.
Both will fight in the main event of Pinoy Pride 31: Clash of Champions tonight at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
The ring was given to acknowledge Nietes’ accomplishments as the longest reigning Filipino world champion, a champion in two weight categories in the WBO and for his huge contribution to Philippine boxing.
Nietes is the second Filipino boxer to be given this rare ring. The other is eight-division world champion and Filipino ring icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.
“I promised ALA Promotions and Leon Panoncillo (WBO Asia Pacific Supervisor) that I will be here when Nietes defends his title. He (Nietes) is a great boxer. He broke a great record and I assure you, he will retire at the hall of fame in boxing,” Valcarcel said.
Nietes broke the late Gabriel “Flash” Elorde’s record of seven years and three months as a world champion in boxing.
“We are very proud of him,” said ALA Promotions International CEO Michael P. Aldeguer. “Especially my father (Antonio L. Aldeguer), the founder of ALA Boxing Gym, is very proud with this great achievement of Donnie. It’s my father’s long dream of establishing a boxing gym that will give youngsters a chance to fulfill their dream and now it’s finally realized.”
Present during the awarding of the ring were WBO Asia Pacific VP Leon Panoncillo and WBO ratings committee chairman Luis Perez.
Other noted boxers who were given the rare ring are Oscar dela Hoya, Marco Antonio Barerra, Joe Calzaghe and Juan Manuel Marquez.