Donnie Nietes: record, next fight and profile →
By Cliff Rold - Boxing does not have seasons. It does, and has always had, dates or times of the year where the expectation of big time boxing heightens. Today, in the United States, fans know Cinco De Mayo and Mexican Independence Day weekend are likely to have big fights. The dates can shift a bit but...
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) headquartered in the Island of Enchantment, Puerto Rico, has assigned Las Vegas Hall of Fame referee Robert Byrd, 75, as the third man in the coming clash for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight title between world-class Filipino fighter Donnie Nietes, 36, and Japanese star Kazuto Ioka.
CEBU, Philippines - In one of the most intriguing and competitive boxing battles between Asian star fighters, three-division world champion Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KO's) of the Philippines clashes against Japanese standout Kazuto Ioka (23-1, 13 KO's) for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight World Title on New Year's Eve at the plush Wynn Palace Cotai in the vibrant city known as "The Vegas of Asia," Macao; and Nietes' strength and conditioning coach American Nick Curson, feels more than confident on the chances of his fighter.
New Year's Celebrations in awesome Macao have got so much more exciting with the confirmation of three world title fights set to thrill boxing fans December 31 in the former Portuguese Colony. In the evening's main event, 3-division world-champions Kazuto Ioka (23-1, 13 KO's) of Japan and Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KO's) of the Philippines collide for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight World Title.
At their ongoing annual convention in Panama, the World Boxing Organization has sanctioned the WBO interim-cruiserweight title for the bout between Maxim Vlasov (42-2, 25 KOs) of Russia and Krzysztof Glowacki (30-1, 19 KOs) of Poland.
Exactly one week prior to the big PPV event headlined by Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, another important card was broadcasted on HBO featuring elite 115 pounders. Part of the actions on ‘SuperFly 3’ featured former three-division world champion Donnie Nietes against young contender Aston Palicte in a bout for the vacant WBO belt at super flyweight.
The ratings for HBO’s third “Super Fly” broadcast were significantly lower than the network’s second telecast that featured 115-pound fighters. Nielsen Media Research released ratings Tuesday that indicated HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” card Saturday night drew a peak audience of 421,000 during the second of three fights – a 12-round draw between Filipinos Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KOs) and Aston Palicte (24-2-1, 20 KOs). The Nietes-Palicte fight, which was contested for the vacant WBO super flyweight title, also averaged more viewers (349,000) than opener of that three-bout broadcast and the main event from The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Forum, Inglewood, California - For the vacant WBO super flyweight title, Donnie Nietes (41-1-4, 23 KOs) fought the much bigger Aston Palicte (24-2, 20 KOs) to a twelve round split draw. The scores were 116-112 for Palicte, 118-110 for Nietes, and 114-114 for the draw.
The selective Donnie Nietes (47.9 punches thrown per round in last 8 fights), landed 37.2% of his total punches and 43% of his power shots. As a result, opponents landed just 8.7 punches per round, nearly half the wgt. class avg. and just 7.5 power shots per round and just 21.6%. Palicte (vs. Cantu & Granados) is an inaccurate whirlwind, averaging 81.3 punches thrown per round, but landing just 20.3%. Half of those punches were jabs (13.5%). AS a result of his over aggressiveness, opponents landed 34.7% of their power shots. Just 22.1% of Nietes landed punches are body shots. (Palicte 16.4%).
Donnie Nietes may be 36 years old, but he does not seem to be showing his age. Based on his recent performances, Nietes looks to be getting better. After dominating his opposition at 108 and 112 pounds, Nietes will make his debut as a junior bantamweight Saturday night against a fellow Filipino. Nietes will face Aston Palicte at The Forum in Inglewood, California with the vacant WBO junior bantamweight title at stake.