By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine No. 1 minimum weight Donnie Nietes put on a boxing clinic in scoring a lopsided six round decision over Noel Veronque before a massive crowd at the “Sinulog Slambang” fight card at the parking lot of the Gaisano Country Mall, Sunday night.
The 23 year old Nietes who is No.1 in the WBO Asia Pacific rankings and No. 7 in the OPBF caught the gutsy Veronque with a series of superb, lightning- quick combinations but couldn’t put him away because Nietes apparently lacks a killer instinct.
Technically Nietes was the most accomplished fighter on a blockbuster card that featured several talented and promising young fighters including 20 year old Robert Allanic who is managed by well-known engineer and longtime Cebu resident Cliff Smart, A.J. Banal, an outstanding super flyweight prospect and Sherwin Paro who is back at the ALA Gym of respected Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer and looking good.
Nietes who suffered only one controversial loss, improved to 17-1-3 with 10 knockouts. He won by a 60-54 shutout over Veronque who had no answer to the combinations of Nietes who ripped his opponent with perfectly timed punches and showed amazing hand- speed.
Allanic won a unanimous six round decision 59-52 on the scorecards of all three judges besting Nonoy Devilleres handily after decking him with a wicked right in the fourth round to move to 10-1 with 5 KO’s and lighting up the face of his manager Smart who promised his fighter he would reward his parents with a trip to Manila since they haven’t been to the big city.
AJ Banal proved too classy fort Rodel Veronque and won by a fifth round TKO when referee Ribaya stopped Veronque from absorbing more punishment at 2:56 of the penultimate round of the six round bout.
