ALA turns down Garcia’s request for rematch with Nietes
A REMATCH between newly crowned World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and Ramon Garcia won’t be happening soon as ALA Promotions is targeting a bigger fight for their prized-fighter.
“We are not looking for a rematch because Donnie clearly won the fight, and it was not a split decision that warrants a rematch as the three judges scored it for Donnie. If you compare it to the (Z) Gorres-(Fernando) Montiel fight, Gorres lost via split decision when some thought that he won but we never demanded a rematch. Also with the (Vic) Darchinyan-Gorres, when Filipino judge Jon Davis scored it for Darchinyan, we respected his decision. But with this fight, Nietes clearly won as he was more accurate as Garcia was throwing rabbit punches and elbows,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Last Saturday night at the University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City in “Pinoy Pride 9”, Garcia’s camp demanded for an immediate rematch after a unanimous decision loss to Nietes, which they believed was a robbery.
Nietes’s next fight will be a voluntary title defense possibly in March followed by a possible unification bout with one of the most feared boxers in the light flyweight division–unbeaten World Boxing Association light flyweight king Roman Gonzalez.
“We are looking at March for his next fight. What we heard is the team of Roman Gonzalez made it clear that they want to fight Donnie. It’s a fight that Donnie wants.
I’m sure the coaches of team Nietes will work on his weaknesses and what went wrong in the middle rounds that will make Donnie more formidable in preparation for the bigger names in his weight division,” said the young Cebuano promoter.
Aside from the 24-year-old Gonzalez, which is one of Nietes’ dream opponents, International Boxing Federation light flyweight titleholder Ulises Solis is also in the horizon.
Following his victory over Garcia, Nietes has broken into the 108-pound rankings of The Ring Magazine, which is considered as the bible of boxing, at No.8.
“We are very proud of Donnie and what he has accomplished. It is nice to know that Donnie is recognized by The Ring Magazine as one of the top fighters of his division,” Nietes made history after winning his second division world title and joined the ranks of fellow Filipino multi-division world champions Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr., Brian Viloria, Dodie Boy Peñalosa, Gerry Peñalosa and Luisito Espinosa.
ALA Promotions, Nietes’s handler, isn’t keen on a rematch with the 29-year-old Mexican because the Cebu-based promotional company believes that Nietes won the fight fair and square and deserves to face some of the bigger names in the division