Negrense boxer Donnie Nietes hopes to retain his World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific title when he puts it on the line in April at the Victorias City Sports Complex in Negros Occidental.

The 24-year-old Nietes, who hails from Murcia, will defend his crown against Tongthailex Por Vorasing of Thailand in a 12-round championship showdown in the minimumweight division.

In a press conference at Chowking-Lacson yesterday, Tony "Bidoy" Aldeguer, a Negrense boxing manager-promoter and owner of the ALA Boxing Gym in Cebu, said that they will hold the title bout in Victorias because they want to revive the sport in the province.

Nietes, who started boxing at six years old, holds a 19-1-3 record with 10 KOs with his most recent win coming in November against Indonesian Heri Amol of Indonesia for the WBO title.

Known as the "Snakeman" as he trains alongside a 20-foot pet python, Nietes has posted victories over International Boxing Federation rated bet Julius Alcos, Roberto Rubillar, Indonesian champion Martii Poli, Ricardo Albia and Elmer Muyco among others. The five undercard bouts will also feature other Negrense pugilists including Bacolod City-born Mark Jason Melligen, a silver medalist in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, when he competes in the light welterweight class of the event that is organized by the SGG Sports Promotions and the Victorias local government.

Negros Amateur Boxing Association president Juan Ramon "Monju" Guanzon said that he hopes the event, which will be a part of Victorias' Charter Day celebration and inauguration of the venue, will once again stir the Negrenses' support and passion for its local boxers.

NABA vice-president Oscar "Dodong" Bascon said that the victories of Bacoleño Joan Tipon and Cadiz City-born Godfrey Castro in the recent Asian Games could also be used by the Negrenses as a gauge to support amateur boxing in order to support future professional pugs.

Vic Tan, treasurer of NABA, said that the local government units should also provide substantial assistance to the boxing programs if they want successful results to be continuous.

Other Negrense boxers that will see action in the one-day hostilities are Jun Intor of Mabinay, Bagoeño Reman Salem, Gil Melligen of Bacolod and Bacoleño Franklin Albia.

Aldeguer said that the opponents of the pugs who will compete in the undercard fights have yet to be determined but all of them will not be coming from the province. *CIT

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