Nietes captures WBO super flyweight title
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 01 Jan 2019 07:37:28 +0000
Donnie “Ahas” Nietes leaned on a career-defining performance to defeat Japanese Kazuto Ioka via split decision and capture the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight title on Monday at the Wynn Palace Cotai resort in Macau.
Nietes, 36, showed great head movements in all 12 rounds to secure a 118-110 score from American judge Levi Martinez. Another American judge, Patricia Morse Jarman, have a score of 116-112.
A Panamanian judge, Samuel Nieto, gave Ioka a 116-112 score.
With his New Year’s victory, Nietes became a four-division world titleholder, joining the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire Jr. as the country’s all-time best boxers.
Pacquiao holds titles in eight weight divisions, while Donaire has four.
“I was expecting a unanimous decision win but I can’t say anything about the decision [of the other judge]. Judges have their own views. That’s what he thinks of the fight or maybe he saw a different angle in the fight,” Nietes told The Manila Times in Filipino via overseas call.
“I’m really happy that I got my four-division world championship this New Year. I showcased the fans a great fight and I am so thankful that they liked my performance.”
Nietes banked on his great head movements and solid jabs as he overcame Ioka’s body shots through his counter-punching and uppercuts all the way.
“His punches were not solid and it seemed he’s afraid to attack me. I was able to evade his body shots and hit him with uppercuts as he got closer so he changed his style,” he said.
Nietes improved his win-loss-draw record to 42-1-5 with 23 knockouts. JOSEF T. RAMOS
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