WBO light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes will once again showcase his venomous punches as he defends his belt against Mexico’s Felipe Salguero, in “Pinoy Pride XIV: Night of Champions” on June 2.
Nietes, who is one of five Filipino world champions alongside Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Brian Villoria, and Sonny Boy Jaro, seems poised to slither his way to the pound-for-pound rankings, as world famous trainer Freddie Roach once claimed that Nietes has the best hands among all the Filipino fighters he has trained next to Pacquiao,.
Nietes, who holds a record of 29-1-3 (16 KOs), is like most Filipino boxers who started dreaming big at a very young age. He started out as a janitor and a utility boy for the ALA Boxing Gym. One of his daily tasks included cleaning and feeding his boss Tony Aldeguer’s five pythons, thus acquiring the moniker “Ahas.”
Armed with the will and courage from his daily endeavors with the snakes, Nietes asked ALA (Antonio Lopez Aldeguer) if he could try his hand in boxing. The Negros Occidental native immediately seized the opportunity and began pushing himself to the limit during training.
Eventually, all the hard work paid off in 2007 when he trounced Pornsawan Porpramook for the vacant WBO minimumweight title.
Perhaps Nietes draws the biggest inspiration today from his nine-month-old baby girl, Dionne Nicole Nietes, as he wisely puts his money in various businesses such as a small piggery, and an agrivet business. And with the help of Tony Aldeguer, Nietes also invested in a house which his father and uncle built with their own hands.
Outside the ring, Nietes’ world does not mainly revolve around boxing, as he is also active in biking and is actually a member of the Bike Talk Friendship Club.
It seems like there is no stopping the meteoric rise of “Ahas,” together with Genesis “Azukal” Servania, and Milan “El Metodico” Melindo, as they carry the whole nation behind their backs and ascend to the top of boxing’s mountain in “Pinoy Pride XIV: Night of Champions.”
From the Resorts World Manila Newport Performing Arts Theater, the bout will be shown via satellite on ABS-CBN on June 3, Sunday 10:15am, with replays on Studio 23 on the same day at 1:30pm, and on Balls Channel on Friday, June 8 at 4:00pm.
