DONNIE “AHAS” NIETES climbs the ring hoping to beat Kazuto Ioka and bring home the Japanese’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight belt.
That’s a tough task for the four-division titlist Nietes, who was at one time the longest-reigning Filipino world champion.
The Philippines is now without a world champion after Mark Magsayo lost his World Boxing Council featherweight title via split decision to Mexican Rey Vargas last Saturday.
And Nietes knows how important his fight is to the country.
“My focus is only Kazuto Ioka—how to dethrone him and get my belt back,” Nietes told BusinessMirror via internet call after the formal weigh-in on Tuesday. “I’ll take this fight without pressure. I’ll just be happy if I can prove myself as a fighter despite my age.”
Now 40, Nietes (43-1-6 win-loss-draw with 23 knockouts) fights the 33-year-old Ioka (28-2 record with 15 knockouts) at the the Ota-City Gymnasium in Tokyo.
The fighter from Bacolod City—a disciplined and patient athlete who reigned from 2007 to 2014—said he has studied his opponent’s style pretty well.
“I have to rely more on counter-punching and accurate strikes. There’s no need to rush for a knockout,” said Nietes, who’ll be coached by long time trainer Edmund Villamor. “If it comes, it comes. There is a game plan to follow.”
Nietes comfortably weighed in at 114.5 pounds while Ioka, who he defeated via split decision in Macau in a 2018 New Year’s Eve fight for the same belt, tipped the scale at 114.86 pounds.
Ioka won his last five bouts all in Japan. He never fought outside of his country. “I’m 100 percent ready for this fight,” Nietes said.