DONNIE “Ahas” Nietes and Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. displayed tremendous feats of power and did not disappoint the packed crowd at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum after scoring knockout wins in their Pinoy Pride 30: D-Day bouts on Saturday night.
Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion in history, fought off Gilberto “Parrita” Parra’s evasive tactics in the first seven rounds to eventually score a ninth-round technical knockout (TKO) of his Mexican challenger in the main event to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior flyweight belt.
American referee Jack Reiss formulated the technical decision stoppage upon the consultation of the ringside physicians before the start of the 10th round, as Parra’s corner failed to close the deep wound inflicted by Nietes.
The 32-year-old Murcia, Negros Occidental native found his opening via a stiff right late in the eighth round to send Parra crashing to the canvas for the first time in the bout.
Parra, who then danced and dodged away from the offensive-minded Nietes, absorbed a crushing left jab-right straight from the champion in the ninth round to suffer a flowing gash to his left eyebrow.
This was Nietes’s seventh successful defense of the junior flyweight title, thus keeping him unbeaten in 27 bouts since 2004.
“Sinunod ko lang ang bilin ng coach ko na ‘wag madaliin ang laban, tapos pag pasok ng ninth round natamaan ko siya,” said the soft-spoken Nietes, who will make a mandatory defense of his belt on July 4.
Donaire, fighting at The Big Dome for the first time since 2009, made quick work of the ineffective Brazilian William Prado in a sensational second-round TKO to nab the vacant North American Boxing Federation super-bantamweight strap to the delight and fervor of the audience at hand.
It was a mismatch from the get-go, as the five-division world champion immediately threw everything including the kitchen sink at Prado from the opening bell.
New Zealand native referee Bruce McTavish eventually saw that the Brazilian absorbed all the blows thrown at him midway through the second round, giving the win and the belt to Donaire.
Image credits: Kevin De La Cruz