Longest reigning FiIipino world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and Mexican Raul “Rayito” Garcia pose after their weigh-in for their WBO World Junior Flyweight championship in the Pinoy Pride 36: A Legend in the Making set Saturday at the Saint La Salle University Stadium in Bacolod City./CDN PHOTO/LITO M. TECSON
BACOLOD CITY—- After months of preparation and grueling training, reigning WBO World light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and challenger Raul “Rayito” Garcia of Mexico are ready to rumble.
This as both boxers made their weight during the official weigh-in on Friday at the Robinsons Place Bacolod.
Nietes and Garcia are fighting for a world title in the main event of “Pinoy Pride 36: A Legend in the Making” Saturday night at the Saint La Salle University Stadium.
Both Nietes (37-1-4,21KOs) and Garcia (36-3-1,22KOs) tipped the scales exactly at 108 pounds, the weight limit for the light flyweight division.
Nietes is looking to extend his reign as the longest reigning Filipino boxing world champion while Garcia is eyeing to avenge the loss of his twin brother Ramon Garcia Hirales to Nietes in 2011.
Nietes, a native of Murcia town, Negros Occidental, will be fighting in front of his home town folks.
Boxers fighting in the co-main event, former world title contender “King” Arthur Villanueva (28-1, 14KOs) and Juan Jimenez (22-9, 15KOs) of Mexico, also made weight for their WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight showdown.
Villanueva weighed in at 117.5lbs while Jimenez tipped the scales at 118lbs.
Meanwhile, two-time world title contender Milan Melindo (33-2,12KOs) was 4 and 3/4lbs over the 110-lb weight limit for his scheduled 10-rounder non-title bout against Maximino Flores (19-2,13KOs) of Mexico. Flores had no problems making weight.
Melindo was made to shed off the excess weight.