By Ronnie Nathanielsz

World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes who usually enters the ring with his pet python put a stranglehold on his title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Mexico’s Erik Ramirez at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca in the southern part of Mexico on Sunday, Manila Time.

Boxing patron and chairman of the ALA Gym Tony Aldeguer who first thanked God for the victory of Nietes who he said is a fine young man who deserves to succeed and overcame the odds of a delayed arrival in Mexico and the WBO's refusal to inform them of the ring officials informed BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that Nietes dropped the challenger four times in the fight beginning with the opening round. Nietes showed his skill and power in decking Ramirez also in rounds 4, 9 and 12 en route to a unanimous decision.

The soft-spoken Nietes one of the most talented but underrated fighters in the ALA gym demonstrated the true courage and skill of Filipino fighters before a big, predominantly Mexican crowd that were stunned by the performance by Nietes.

In an overseas telephone conversation with BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, an elated Nietes said the punch that did it for him was his patented “overhand right” and that he “didn’t feel the power of Ramirez or felt in any trouble throughout the bout.”

Both Aldeguer, trainer Edmund Villamor and Nietes wanted a knockout as insurance against a hometown decision and there were clear indications the referee should have stopped the fight in the last round when Ramirez had no hope of winning and was in bad shape but he didn’t and the gallant Mexican was able to stand up and beat the count.

Villamor said Nietes was “always in condition, gave his best and we were surprised that he kept getting up from the knockdowns. They wanted to take his title but Donnie wouldn’t give it to them.”

Ramirez said after the fight that “it was a great fight. I gave everything I had, all my power, and I fought with all my heart but Donnie wanted this and did what he had to so he retained his title. I recognize him as a great champion . I gave a good fight and the people liked it.”

The 26 year old Nietes improved his record to 24-1-3 with 14 knockouts. He won the vacant world title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Thailand’s Pornsawan Kartingdaenggym on September 30, 2007 and in his last fight scored an impressive second round knockout over Eddie Castro last August 30 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.

Nietes dropped Castro in the first and second rounds before putting him away for good at 2:49 of the second round when Castro was counted out by referee Raul Caiz Jr.