FOR the second time this year an all-Filipino world boxing title fight will take place as Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and Aston “Mighty” Palicte dispute the World Boxing Organization super flyweight belt, which one local fight analyst said carry much significance for the protagonists.
Part of HBO and 360 Promotions’ SuperFly 3 card on Sept. 9 (Manila time) at The Forum in Inglewood, California, the Nietes-Palicte fight follows up on the Jerwin Ancajas-Jonas Sultan all-Filipino fight for the International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight belt in May.
Both Messrs. Nietes and Palicte view their upcoming fight with much significance, believing it would further enhance their respective careers, a fact not being disputed by fight analyst Nissi Icasiano.
For Mr. Nietes, latching on to the WBO super flyweight title will be another feather under his cap and take his already-legendary career to another plane.
“If there’s one bout that will cement Donnie Nietes’ legacy as an international professional boxer, it may be his coming ring encounter with Aston Palicte. Going by the numbers, it is hard to deny his place in Philippine pro boxing history. However, he continues to fight behind the shadows of the likes of Manny Pacquiao,” said Mr. Icasiano in an interview with BusinessWorld, of the Murcia, Negros native Nietes (41-1-4), who has been undefeated in more than a decade and has won titles in minimum weight, light flyweight and flyweight.
“A win in this fight will give him worldwide recognition as a victory over Palicte will insert his name into the elite cast of boxers who have won world titles in four different weight classes. If he wins, Nietes will only be the 18th pugilist to ever achieve that kind of feat, joining the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Erik Morales, Tommy Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard,” he added.
On the part of Mr. Palicte (24-2), a win will be a culmination of steadily building his career up, Mr. Icasiano said, and put him in the roster of Filipino world champions.
“For Aston Palicte, it’s a long time coming. It took him 26 fights to get him to a world title shot. A win over Nietes will make him the 43rd Filipino to win a world title in boxing,” the analyst said.
NIETES FAVORED BUT …
Being the more seasoned fighter, 36-year-old Nietes should be the favorite to win the all-Filipino fight on Sunday but it being his first foray in super flyweight and against a tough fighter at that makes the jury still out on the outcome of the contest.
“It’s obvious that Nietes is the more technically sound boxer between the two fighters this weekend. Aside from that, he has the championship experience. My main concern is that this is his maiden foray into 115 pounds. It’s intriguing to see how Nietes will react to the power of a natural super flyweight like Palicte, who is a younger and equally hungry Pinoy warrior,” he said.
“In addition, Palicte has the length and height advantage coming into the fight. There are a lot of elements that come into play in this bout. But if Nietes could impose his will and vast experience against Palicte, there’s a possibility that it could turn into a one-sided affair. It’s up to Palicte to test his compatriot, who decided to move up into another weight class at the age of 36,” Mr. Icasiano added.
SuperFly 3 will also feature Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada against compatriot Felipe Orucuta in a non-title fight as well as Puerto Rican McWilliams Arroyo against Japanese Kazuto Ioka. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
