Filipino Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (right) and his Mexican foe Juan “Pinky” Alejo pose for photographers after the weigh-in yesterday. (Dong Secuya of Philboxing.com)
Carson, Ca.–After all the saber-rattling and fight predictions, it’s finally down to business for the fighters today as ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN put up “Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines Vs The World” in a historic fight card here at the Stub Hub Center.
This will be the first ever event promoted wholly by a Filipino promotional entity here in the United States, and the pressure builds up not just for organizers but the boxers seeing action as well to bring out the best in themselves in what could be the first of a series of events being put in the pipeline by organizers for next year.
“We’ve done our part, everybody has done his part, so its up for the boxers to deliver. We have chosen the best available fighters out there to face the ALA fighters, and although we hope for a sweep, we are ready for anything that will happen,” ALA president and CEO Michael Aldeguer told the media right after yesterday’s weigh-in.
World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior flyweight champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes stakes his title as well as his Ring Magazine linear title on the line against 8th-ranked Juan ‘Pinky’ Alejo of Mexico in a 12-round rumble, marking the eighth time that he will defend the title after winning the diadem back in 2011 against another Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales.
Sky Cable will telecast the fights free to viewers and will also be beamed to Nicaragua and on the widely watched TFC, the Filipino Channel.
ABS-CBN Sports & Action will also air the fights on a slightly delayed basis at 11:00 a.m. today while a replay is slated for “Sunday’s Best” this evening.
WEIGHTS
The Murcia, Negros-born 33-year-old Nietes (36-1-4, 21 KOs) is the longest-reigning Filipino world champion, and is highly-regarded as a ‘Mexican conqueror’ being the only Filipino world champion to have successfully defended his title three times in Mexico.
The heavy-handed Alejo (21-3, 13 KOs) is coming off an impressive 21-fight winning streak in a 6-year period, and has vowed to take home the title to Mexico at the expense of Nietes.
At yesterday’s official weigh-in announced by Jimmy Lennon, Jr, Nietes came in at 107.8 lbs, while Alejo tipped the scales at 107.4 lbs in advance of their title showdown today.
Appointed as third man on the ring for the fight is Raul Caiz, Jr and when the fights goes the distance, tasked to judge the fight are veteran judges Pat Russell, Lou Moret and Marshall Walker III while Richard De Cuir is the fight supervisor.
SUPPORTING BOUTS
The chief support will feature unbeaten ALA fighter Albert ‘Prince’ Pagara defending his WBO Intercontinental Jr. Featherweight title against Nicaraguan William ‘Chirizo’ Gonzalez over 12 rounds.
Pagara, undefeated in 24 fights and described by many as a future star, checked in at 121.8 lbs while Gonzalez tipped the scales at 120.6 lbs during yesterday’s official weigh-in.
Jason “El Nino” Pagara (36-2, 22 KOs), the WBO International superlightweight champion, goes up against Nicaraguan Santos “El Toro” Benavides (25-7-2, 19 KOs) in a non-title tenner. Both came at 143 lbs.
Hot prospect Mark ‘Magnifico’ Magsayo (11-0, 9 KOs), the IBF Youth featherweight champion, will defend his title against fellow unbeaten warrior Yardley Suarez (13-0, 8 KOs) of Mexico in a mouth-watering match-up of power-punchers.
Both Magsayo and Suarez checked in at 125.4 lbs at yesterday’s official weigh-in.
The first bout pits California-based Filipino Bruno Escalante in a 6-round battle against Mexico’s Nestor Ramos.
NOTES. Four more Pinoy Pride events are already being discussed for next year in the US, according to promoter Michael Aldeguer…Veteran ring official Marty Denkin is scheduled to receive an artwork at tonight’s fight in appreciation of his years of service to boxing…Veteran ring announcer Jimmy Lennon was quoted as saying he had been following the activities of ALA Promotions since the start, and had a talk with Michael Aldeguer in Texas about possibly doing the shows. The rest, as they say, is history…