DONNIE NIETES. The longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion is getting more popular in the US.
Orlando, Florida –WBO junior flyweight champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes, declared by the WBO here yesterday as its ‘superchampion’ is apparently warming up just fine to his new-found status here as he gamely posed with fans and convention participants who want to have a photo taken with him.
Nietes, who is accompanied here by manager Michael Aldeguer and ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor, was given a special introduction the other day by no less than WBO president Paco Valcarcel during the opening day of the 28th WBO Annual Convention happening here at the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Lake.
Even top fellow fighters, Japan’s WBO champion Naoya Inoue and WBO flyweight kingpin Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, were seen gamely posing for photos with Nietes, who was clearly the most recognized fighter here during the opening ceremonies of the convention.
Meanwhile, the third day of the 28th Annual Convention WBO Convention saw the holding of the Judges’ Seminar at the Palm Ballroom 3 of the Hilton Orlando Buenavista Lake Hotel.
Among the participants who arrived very early for the session were Martino Redona and Arcade Terrado both of the PBC, this writer representing Asia Pacific, and lady judge Waleska Roldan of New York.
Veteran referee Geno Rodriguez, who for many years served as chairman of officials, took to the microphone first whereby he announced that the WBO has recently appointed him to a new position as championship committee vice-chairman, and that he is now turning over the responsibilities to new chairman of officials Michael Pernick.
Pernick then greeted all the officials present in the seminar, but made a quick introduction and gave the floor to Frank Gentile of the Florida Boxing Commission.
Shortly thereafter, Pernick introduced the two main resource speakers of the seminar, whom he described as the “cream of the cream,” –Levi Martinez and Glen Feldman.
Martinez, who was at the same time awarded as “the uncrowned king of boxing judges,” then went on to give an incisive, well-received lecture on judging fights which lasted for almost two hours.
Among the most important points discussed by Martinez are the following: being at the fight venue even before the first bout, refrain from drinking alcohol 24 hours before a fight, keep a low profile, don’t ever complain about other officials, never ask for ticket from promoters, give utmost concentration on the fight at hand, among others.
Participants were then divided into three groups based on the number of world title bouts officiated.
Both Martinez and Feldman, with the assistance of Pernick, then showed footages of previous fights for the attendees to score, with three participants asked to sit in front to score the bouts. Two Philippine judges–Salven Lagumbay and Edward Ligas–as well as a British judge were first to score a round and made to explain their scores in front of the officials.
Some of the bouts being put under study were the following: Provodnikov vs Algieri, Quilin vs Lee, Lara vs Alvarez, Salido vs Martinez, Magdaleno vs Gonzalez, among others.
The Referees’s Seminar was to follow in the afternoon.