Nietes fights Carrillo for vacant WBO crown

FORMER four-division world champion and longest Filipino champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes is making his much-awaited comeback as he faces Pablo “El Trencito” Carrillo of Columbia for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) International super flyweight belt.

The Murcia, Negros Occidental-native is fighting under D4G Promotions at Caesar’s Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, UAE as an undercard to the main event featuring Jamel Herring and Irishman Carl Frampton on April 3, 2021.

Nietes is fighting for the first time since winning the WBO super flyweight belt with a split decision victory over Kazuto Ioka on Dec. 31, 2018 at the Cotai Arena in Macau.

The 38-year-old Nietes, 42-1-5 with 23 knockouts, is out to prove that he has something left in the tank after more than two-year of hiatus.

Nietes said that this will be an exciting fight since the bout is for a belt.

Nietes will trade leathers with Carrillo, a former World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedebol super flyweight title holder who has fought elite names like current WBO super flyweight king Ioka, Francisco Rodriguez Jr., Luis Concepcion and Ronald Barrera.

Just like Nietes, Carrillo who holds a record of 25 wins, seven losses and a draw with 16 KOs has not fought for almost two years after winning his last two bouts against Luis Golindano via fifth round stoppage and a unanimous decision win over Luis Guerrero.

Nietes, who has been training in Cebu, is looking for an impressive outing to bring him closer to his dream fight, the very reason why he decided to return to the ring. A win would also put him back into the world rankings of the WBO, wherein Ioka is currently the reigning champion.

Nietes earlier told The Manila Times that his dream fight would be against either Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, Juan Francisco Estrada or Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.