FILIPINO pride Donnie Nietes was on his usual deadly form even on a heavier weight class, as he outpointed former world champion Edgar Sosa of Mexico via a lopsided unanimous-decision victory for his first flyweight win on Sunday in the Pinoy Pride 38 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
The native of Murcia, Negros Occidental, stamped his class over his veteran opponent, pouring combinations and solid counters in the 12-round bout to convincingly score 120-108 from the three judges.
With the victory, Nietes, 34, improved to 39 wins, one loss, four draws with 22 knockouts and captured the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental flyweight belt in his debut since vacating his 108-pound crown to seek for his third division title after reigning supreme in light flyweight from 2011.
“Hindi ako nagmadali para ma-test ko talaga kung hanggang saan ‘yung lakas ko sa 112,” Nietes said after the bout.
The longtime Filipino champion appeared to be sharper and more accurate as he landed timely blows to neutralize the experienced Sosa from the opening bell.
Sosa failed to answer the quick-cat offense of Nietes, as the Mexican helplessly fell into the timed counterpunches of the Filipino boxing star.
The 37-year-old Sosa dropped his 10th fight with 52 wins and 20 knockouts. Prior to the match, Sosa expressed his intention to take the shot for the flyweight belt after a failed attempt to dethrone Gonzales in May 2015, suffering a brutal second-round technical knockout loss to the unbeaten Gonzales.
Mark Magsayo and King Arthur Villanueva also scored impressive wins over their respective Mexican counterparts.
In the co-main event, Magsayo, now flaunting an unblemished 15-0 record, defeated Ramiro Robles (13-6, 8 KOs) via unanimous decision.
The 21-year-old prospect from Bohol scored the lone knockdown in the seventh round with a punishing right hand to the body. He continuously pounded Robles until the final bell to win the scorecards of all three judges, 119-107, 118-108 and 120-106.
Magsayo was originally scheduled to fight Ruben Garcia, but the latter pulled out from the match due to an injury during his training camp.
Meanwhile, Villanueva (30-1, 16 KOs) connected a brutal right upper hook to knock out cold Juan Jimenez (22-11, 15 KOs) in the second round of their rematch in the bantamweight division.
Jimenez started strong in the first round with excellent hits that surprised Villanueva. In the second round, the Bacolod City pride landed a clean right hook to the jaw of Jimenez after a brief exchange. The Mexican failed to answer the 10-count.
Villanueva retained his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight belt.