What’s Next for Donnie Nietes? More Big Fights, starting with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai?
On December 31st, 2018 in Macau, Donnie Nietes scored a significant win for his career. He defeated Kazuto Ioka to win the vacant WBO super flyweight title.
As a result, he became a 4-time, 4-division world champion!
2018 was, in many ways, a breakout year for him. The 36 year-old veteran from the Philippines presents a classic case in boxing that is particularly common among smaller weight fighters; a highly accomplished boxer going largely unknown until an advanced stage of their career.
It wasn’t until last year that he really started to get some shine. First, he landed a slot on the HBO “Super Fly” series. Then, came the high profile win over Ioka last month.
As Things Stand…
Following a career best win, the question for Nietes now is “what’s the future for the multiple-weight world champion?” Well, according to him and his head trainer Edito Villamor, they want the big names in the division and their number one target is WBC champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.
Talking to the Filipino press following his win over Ioka, Nietes stated he wanted to unify while turning his attention to big fights against the likes of Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, Juan Francisco Estrada and the Rungvisai.
They are fighters viewed by many as the best in the division. When asked which of the three he preferred, Villamor said his preferred target would be the power-punching Rungvisai. Interestingly enough, a fight that Nietes is not interested in is a showdown against current IBF champion Jerwin Ancajas.
By his own admission, he’s not keen on fighting his fellow countryman.
All this talk of what Nietes wants moving forward is just that at this point. While he talks about fighting the big dog at 115 pounds, the new WBO champion first has to get his mandatory out the way.
Aston Palicte, who Nietes fought to a controversial draw in September 2018 for the vacant WBO belt, will face Jose Martinez in a eliminator on January 31 in Alpine, California.
It’s anticipated that Nietes would face the winner of that bout, for what would be the first title an attempt at his first title defense.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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