MANILA – Filipino boxer Donnie Nietes has relinquished his International Boxing Federation (IBF) world flyweight championship.
He has decided to move up to a higher weight class and chase his fourth world title in different divisions.
In a statement, the Murcia, Negros Occidental-native Nietes said he decided to move up to super flyweight division (115 pounds) for a chance to fight the big names in the weight class.
Nietes is currently the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion.
“This is the challenge I have been waiting for,” he said. “To go up in weight is never easy but this is my dream to become a fourth division world champion and to fight all the big names at super flyweight.”
Nietes said he was happy that ALA Promotions supported him.
Among the prominent names that Nietes could face in the super flyweight division are Filipino Jerwin Ancajas, Thai Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Mexicans Juan Franciso Estrada and Roman Gonzalez.
ALA Boxing Promotions’ Michael Aldeguer said Nietes could land a fight for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight belt, which was relinquish by Japanese Naoya Inoue last month.
“Donnie Nietes will fight for the vacant WBO vacant world super flyweight title soon. We are looking forward to making the biggest fights for Donnie in the next couple of years,” Aldeguer said.
The 35-year-old Nietes currently has 41-1-4 win-loss-draw ring record, including 23 stoppage wins. He has also handle WBO world light flyweight and minimumweight titles before./PN
