Negrense boxer Donnie Nietes is reportedly being eyed by boxing promotions based in Japan and the United States after becoming a free agent due to the closure of Cebu City-based ALA Boxing Promotions.
In a report by Philboxing.com on Tuesday, Japan-based Tekken Promotions and a USA-based boxing promotion are looking to sign Nietes.
The Murcia, Negros Occidental-native has been inactive since Dec. 31, 2018, when he captured the World Boxing Organization world super flyweight belt via split decision against Japanese boxer Kazuto Ioka.
The 38-year-old Nietes, however, never defended his world championship as he relinquished it in Jan. 2019 to avoid a clash with fellow Negrense boxer Aston Palicte.
Since then, Nietes never stepped in the ring due to shoulder injury. He was supposed to make his boxing return this year but the coronavirus pandemic halted his plans.
Nietes currently has a 42-1-5 win-loss-draw ring record, including 23 stoppage wins. The Negrense boxerâs lone defeat was a controversial decision against Indonesian Angka Angkotta in 2004.
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Gilas Pilipinas women guard Ella Fajardo is preparing hard for her stint with United States National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 member school Fairleigh Dickinson University next year, while gearing up to join the Womenâs National Basketball League (WNBL) in the Philippines after college.
The 17-year-old Fajardo, whose mother is based in Bacolod City, said she was excited to play for the Fairleigh Dickinson University as it will be her stepping stone to the professional ranks.
âOne of the primary reasons I chose to go (to Fairleigh) actually is because of the type of relationship I have with the coaches there,â Fajardo shared.
âThe main coach and the assistant coaches are fairly new. This is going to be their third season when Iâm a freshman so itâs really a new environment. They really need me for that leadership piece,â added the team captain of Gill St. Bernard High School team.
While it was also her dream to play in the Womenâs National Basketball Association (WNBA), Fajardo said she is leaning towards joining the WNBL draft after college to be able to play for the Gilas Pilipinas womenâs team.
âI have thought about it (WNBA) for sure but honestly I think that my heart is where my home is, my country the Philippines,â Fajardo said.
âI am currently a member of the national womenâs Gilas Pilipinas and I really do plan to represent my country as much as I can,â she added.
Fajardo was part of the Gilas Pilipinas women squad that clinched a historic bronze medal in the International Basketball Federation Under-18 3×3 World Cup in Mongolia last year./PN
