With Flash Elorde's record in sight, Donnie Nietes keeps focus on upcoming fight

WBO world light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes is on the verge of breaking Gabriel "Flash" Elorde's Filipino record world title reign of seven years and three months.

 

Nietes (33-1-4, 19KOs) first became a world champion in September of 2007 when he defeated Pornsawan Porpramook for the WBO world minimumweight title in Cebu.

 

Seven years later, Nietes is still a title holder, an accomplished two-division world champion en route to being one of the best champions the Philippines has produced.

 

Nietes will return inside the squared-circle against likely opponent Carlos Velarde of Mexico on November 15.

 

And though Philippine boxing history is at stake, Nietes' strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson says that they're not going out of their way to break Elorde's record.

 

"We are not necessarily doing anything extra to break the great Flash Elorde's record. That is just a byproduct of Nietes being a great champion," said Curson.

 

"We are however training with the same, if not more intensity to beat Carlos Velarde. He is a ranked opponent and a Mexican."

 

Velarde is rated by the WBO as the #10 light flyweight in the world. For that reason, Nietes is working hard in training day in and day out.

 

"We are not taking him (Velarde) lightly. Nietes knows this and is training with the same intent to win as he has shown in the past," Curson added. — JST, GMA News