By Dennis Principe

For six straight years, Filipino boxer Donnie “Ahas” Nietes has been a world boxing champion by winning two division titles which makes him currently the longest-tenured Filipino world titleholder.

 

All along though, Nietes’ performance was not considered fan-friendly as most people had spent more time talking about scams and infamous personalities on TV.

 

Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Nietes plans to change everything when he stake his World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightflyweight belt against Moises Fuentes of Mexico in a 12-round rematch.

 

Nietes barely kept that belt the first time he fought Fuentes when the Filipino champion was able to escape with a majority draw in a close bout held last March 2013 in Cebu.

 

In that fight, Nietes admits he fought cautiously most of the time, a fight plan he knows would not earn adulation from fight fans.

 

“I plan to be more aggressive and fight an exciting fight. My thinking since I fought Fuentes is that I should dish out a performance that will be admired by the public,” said Nietes.

 

It seems that Nietes’ is slowly evolving into that type of fighter since his last title defense where he stopped another Mexican Sammy Gutierrez in the 3rd round in a title defense held at the Araneta Coliseum.

 

Against Fuentes, Nietes showed a vastly improved footwork and threw more combinations as opposed to his previous style of throwing no more that 1-2 punch combo.

 

“I will go for a knockout. I just don’t know what round but the way I’ve prepared for this fight, a knockout is imminent,” said Nietes.

 

This will be Nietes’ fourth defense of the crown he won last October 2011 from Mexican Raul Garcia. Before that, Nietes reigned as WBO minimumweight champion from September 2007 until his victory over Garcia.

 

Nietes currently has a record of 32 wins one loss, four draws with 18 knockouts while Fuentes is parading a 19-1-1 tally with 10 stoppages.