Nietes vs Fuentes rematch May 10

PASAY CITY–ALA Boxing Promotions successfully snared the promotional rights over Mexico’s Zanfer Promotions to stage the much awaited rematch between two division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (38-1-4, 18KOs) and interim champion Moises “Moi” Fuentes (19-1-1, 10KOs) in Manila.
The rematch is touted as the biggest boxing event in the country this year with ALA Promotions and Zanfer caught in a virtual dogfight to promote it. Although ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer has yet to sign the contract, he already announced the staging of the fight tentatively on May 10 either at the SM Mall of Asia Arena or the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fuentes and Nietes’ first encounter at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino ended in an epic majority draw with the latter retaining his WBO light flyweight title.
According to Aldeguer, he is still negotiating with Fuentes’ promoter, Zanfer Promotions to finalize the deal.
Meanwhile, ALA Promotions also scored a major victory after it successfully inked a deal with Zanfer Promotions to include Filipino WBO mini-flyweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo in the undercard of the March 22 card to be headlined by the Erik “El Terible” Morales-Jorge Paez Jr. showdown.
Sabillo will defend his title against Francisco Rodriguez. Nietes and Sabillo are now undergtoing intensive training for their upcoming major fights.
“This fight is very important in Philippine boxing history because this will determine if Nietes can surpass the record of Filipino boxing legend Gabriel Flash Elorde,” Aldeguer told CDN.
Elorde’s seven-year reign as a world champion is just three months longer than Nietes’ and a win by the latter over Fuentes will cement his place in the annals of Philippine boxing.
The explosive undercard will also feature the comebacking Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista and former world title challenger Milan “Metodico” Melindo.