Nietes unfazed about facing Vargas on hostile ground

MANILA, Philippines –Donnie “Ahas" Nietes remains confident about retaining his World Boxing Organization minimumweight title even if he has to defend it at the hometown of his Mexican challenger, WBO interim champion Manuel Vargas. Nietes (24-1-3) was supposed to defend the 105-lb strap on local soil but negotiations bogged down and the Filipino’s showdown with Vargas (26-3-1) would instead take place tentatively on July 18 in Mexico, most probably in the town of Oaxaca. “Okay lang sa akin iyon (having the fight transferred to Mexico), hindi naman tayo nagkulang sa ensayo," Nietes said Wednesday in a telephone interview on the DSZR program Sports Chat with Dennis Principe. The 27-year-old fighter is not new to fighting on hostile ground as only last February in Oaxaca, Mexico, he successfully defended the WBO belt with a unanimous win over hometown boy Erik Ramirez. In that fight-away-from-home, Nietes silenced the pro-Ramirez crowd by knocking down his challenger in the first, fifth, ninth and 12th rounds en route to the runaway triumph. Faced with a hostile crowd again, Nietes vowed to come totally prepared for the fight by going all out at the gym. He’s currently based in Cebu but is set to fly to Los Angeles this Saturday to wind up his training at the Wild Card Gym. “Grabe ang pag-ensayo ko ngayon para sa next defense ko," said Nietes, who won the crown in 2007 via a UD disposal of Thai Pornsawan Popramook in Cebu. He had carefully studied Vargas’ moves through tapes of the Mexican’s four outings. “Malakas din siya, grabe ang body punches niya kaya iyon ang paghahandaan ko. Pati na rin ang speed niya," said Nietes, who had sparred with Milan Milenyo Melindo and RP flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes – fighters noted for their body punches. “Sa tingin ko, nakuha ko na ang istilo ni Vargas ngayon. Pero hindi tayo magku-kumpiyansa, buhos pa rin tayo sa ensayo," he added. Nietes is part of the Philippines’ elite roster of world champions that include pound-for-pound king IBO light-welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, IBF flyweight boss Nonito Donaire, Jr. and IBF light-flyweight supremo Brian Viloria. – GMANews.TV