Donnie Nietes


Donnie Liboon Nietes is a Filipino professional boxer. He is a world champion in four weight-classes, having previously held the WBO mini-flyweight title from 2007 to 2011; the WBO and The Ring magazine junior-flyweight titles between 2011 and 2016; IBF flyweight title from 2017 to 2018; and the WBO junior-bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019. He is the longest-reigning Filipino boxing world champion, surpassing in 2014 the record set in 1967 by Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Gabriel "Flash" Elorde. He was one of the first three Asian fighters with world titles in at least four weight classes alongside fellow Filipinos Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.
As of October 2019, Nietes is ranked as the world's third best active junior-bantamweight by The Ring and Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and fourth by BoxRec.

Nickname

Regarding how Nietes got his nickname "Ahas" which is Tagalog for "snake," Tony Aldeguer states:

Professional career

Early years

Nietes worked as a utility man at the Antonio Lopez Aldeguer boxing gym before taking up boxing after being encouraged by the practitioners with whom he socialized.
In 2003, at the age of 20, Nietes started his career as a professional boxer. On, May 22, 2004, he won the Philippines Boxing Federation light flyweight title against Joseph Villasis via first-round technical knockout. Nietes was undefeated before losing in his bout against Angky Angkota via 10-round split decision on September 28, 2004. Angkota weighed in six pounds over the weight limit for this fight.
On November 24, 2011, Nietes won the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight Title against Heri Amol of Indonesia via second-round knockout. He defended the title twice against Thai boxers Thongthailek Sor Tanapinyo and Sakulpan Pakdee Gym prior to world title fights in minimumweight division.

Minimumweight

On September 30, 2007, Nietes fought then undefeated Pornsawarn Kratingdaenggym of Thailand for the vacant WBO Minimumweight World Title in Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel, Cebu City, Philippines. Although Nietes floored Kratingdaenggym in the fourth round, the Thai boxer managed to get up at the final bell. The bout ended in a unanimous decision in favor of Nietes.
Three times, Nietes has been pitted with fighters against whom he was supposed to defend his title, however, all plans have fallen through for undisclosed reasons. Because of this, he was at risk of being stripped off his belt, as WBO rules state that a champion has to defend his title within a year. After 11 months of inactivity, he finally defended his crown, against Eddy Castro on August 30, 2008. Nietes won the fight by technical knockout at 2:49 mark of the second round.
Nietes defended his title for the second time by scoring a unanimous decision victory over Erik Ramirez on February 28, 2009. En route to the win, Nietes sent Ramirez to the canvass four times in separate rounds.
In his third defense, Nietes battled interim champion Manuel Vargas on September 12, 2009. Nietes won the bout by split decision.
On January 23, 2010, Nietes was supposed to defend his WBO title for the fourth time. After a couple of opponents backed out, Mexico's Jesus Silvestre became the last resort. But because Silvestre wasn't ranked in the WBO, Nietes' title wasn't wagered and the bout was only 10 rounds. In the fight, both boxers did well and appeared strong. In the 10th and final round, Nietes was declared winner by TKO when Silvestre stopped to take a drink of water during the fight, a move that was against the rules.
In his fourth title defense, Nietes fought Mexico's Mario Rodriguez. The fight took place on August 14, 2010, at the Auditorio Luis Estrada Medina in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. The Filipino pugilist won the bout by unanimous decision with scores of 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112.
Nietes was scheduled to defend his title on March 12, 2011, against mandatory challenger and former champion Raul Garcia. However, less than two weeks before the fight, Nietes announced that he would be vacating his world title and moving up in weight. 0n April 9, 2011, Nietes faced Armando Vazquez and defeated him via first round knock out.

Light flyweight

On October 8, 2011, Nietes defeated Mexico's Ramón García Hirales via 12-round unanimous decision to win the WBO Light Flyweight title. Nietes defended the title on June 2, 2012 against Felipe Salguero via unanimous decision.
Nietes retained his WBO Light Flyweight title against WBO Minimumweight champion Moises Fuentes on March 2, 2013 via a majority draw.
On November 15, 2014, the Bacolod native successfully defended his WBO and 'The Ring' Light Flyweight titles by stopping Carlos Velarde of Mexico in the 7th round. Nietes became the longest-reigning Filipino world champion on that same day, surpassing the record previously held by Gabriel Elorde.

Flyweight

After breaking Elorde's record, Nietes successfully defended his title four more times before deciding to move up to the flyweight division. His first flyweight fight was against former WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa on September 24, 2016. On April 29, 2017, Nietes became the third Filipino boxer to win world titles in three different weight divisions, along with Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire when he defeated Thailand's Komgrich Nantapech. He successfully defended his title against the mandatory challenger Argentinaian and former two division world champion Juan Carlos Reveco winning via Technical Knockout after Reveco's corner throws in the towel, on the 7th round of the fight. On June 14, 2018, Nietes entered The Ring magazine's pound for pound list for the first time in his career at the number nine spot.

Junior bantamweight

Nietes made his debut in the junior-bantamweight division against Filipino compatriot Aston Palicte for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight Championship. The fight ended in a questionable Split decision draw, 118-110 for Nietes, 116-112 for Palicte and a 114-114 draw at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Punch count statistics saw Nietes, 36, land 194 punches, 70 more than Palicte, his 40 percent of punches landed was nearly twice the accuracy rate of his rival. While not beaten, Nietes was denied a victory that would have put him alongside Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire as the only Asian fighters with world titles in at least four weight classes. He eventually won the same vacant title after defeating Kazuto Ioka via split decision and became the third Asian to win world titles in at least four weight classes.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
48Win42–1–5 Kazuto IokaSD1231 Dec 2018 Wynn Palace, Macau, SARWon vacant WBO junior-bantamweight title
47Draw41–1–5 Aston Palicte128 Sep 2018 The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.For vacant WBO junior-bantamweight title
46Win41–1–4 Juan Carlos RevecoTKO7, 0:5324 Feb 2018 The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained IBF flyweight title
45Win40–1–4 Komgrich NantapechUD1229 Apr 2017 Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, PhilippinesWon vacant IBF flyweight title
44Win39–1–4 Edgar SosaUD1224 Sep 2016 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental flyweight title
43Win38–1–4 Raul GarciaRTD5, 3:0028 May 2016 La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod City, PhilippinesRetained WBO and The Ring junior-flyweight titles
42Win37–1–4 Juan AlejoUD1217 Oct 2015 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.Retained WBO and The Ring junior-flyweight titles
41Win36–1–4 Francisco Rodríguez Jr.UD1211 Jul 2015 Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, PhilippinesRetained WBO and The Ring junior-flyweight titles
40Win35–1–4 Gilberto ParraRTD9, 3:0028 Mar 2015 Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, PhilippinesRetained WBO and The Ring junior-flyweight titles
39Win34–1–4 Carlos Velarde7, 3:0015 Nov 2014 Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, PhilippinesRetained WBO and The Ring junior-flyweight titles
38Win33–1–4 Moisés FuentesTKO9, 2:5610 May 2014 Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, PhilippinesRetained WBO junior-flyweight title;
Won vacant The Ring junior-flyweight title
37Win32–1–4 Sammy GutiérrezKO3, 2:5830 Nov 2013 Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, PhilippinesRetained WBO junior-flyweight title
36Draw31–1–4 Moisés FuentesMD122 Mar 2013 Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, PhilippinesRetained WBO junior-flyweight title
35Win31–1–3 Danai MeendaengKO5, 2:4617 Nov 2012 Lamberto Macias Sports Complex, Dumaguete City, Philippines
34Win30–1–3 Felipe SalgueroUD122 Jun 2012 Resorts World Manila, Pasay, PhilippinesRetained WBO junior-flyweight title
33Win29–1–3 Ramón García HiralesUD128 Oct 2011 La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod, PhilippinesWon WBO junior-flyweight title
32Win28–1–3 Armando VazquezKO1, 2:269 Apr 2011 La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod, Philippines
31Win27–1–3 Mario RodriguezUD1214 Aug 2010 Auditorio Luis Estrada Medina, Guasave, MexicoRetained WBO mini-flyweight title
30Win26–1–3 Jesús SilvestreTKO10, 1:3723 Jan 2010 Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay, Philippines
29Win25–1–3 Manuel VargasSD1212 Sep 2009 El Palenque de la Feria, Tepic, MexicoRetained WBO mini-flyweight title
28Win24–1–3 Erik RamirezUD1228 Feb 2009 Auditorio Guelaguetza, Oaxaca, MexicoRetained WBO mini-flyweight title
27Win23–1–3 Eddy CastroKO2, 2:4930 Aug 2008 Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, PhilippinesRetained WBO mini-flyweight title
26Win22–1–3 Pornsawan PorpramookUD1230 Sep 2007 Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, PhilippinesWon vacant WBO mini-flyweight title
25Win21–1–3 Saengpetch Sor SakulphanTKO7, 0:367 Jul 2007 Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, PhilippinesRetained WBO Asia Pacific mini-flyweight title
24Win20–1–3 Thongthailek Sor TanapinyoKO2 21 Apr 2007 New City Coliseum, Victorias, PhilippinesRetained WBO Asia Pacific mini-flyweight title
23Win19–1–3 Heri AmolKO2, 0:4624 Nov 2006 Sports & Cultural Complex, Mandaue City, PhilippinesWon vacant WBO Asia Pacific mini-flyweight title
22Win18–1–3 Robert RubillarUD1012 Aug 2006 Sports Complex, Minglanilla, Philippines
21Win17–1–3 Noel VeronqueUD615 Jan 2006 Gaisano Country Mall Parking Lot, Cebu City, Philippines
20Win16–1–3 Allan DugangUD830 Dec 2005 CPG Multi-Purpose Center, Talibon, Philippines
19Win15–1–3 Randy NarbayKO2 25 Sep 2005 Island City Mall, Tagbilaran, Philippines
18Win14–1–3 Allan DugangUD1028 Aug 2005 Town Plaza, Panglao, Philippines
17Draw13–1–3 Nino Suelo1, 1:2630 Jul 2005 San Andres Civic & Sports Center, Manila, Philippines
16Win13–1–2 Elmer MuycoUD1030 Apr 2005 Sports & Cultural Complex, Mandaue City, Philippines
15Win12–1–2 Ricardo AlbiaTKO7, 1:0629 Jan 2005 Sports & Cultural Complex, Mandaue City, Philippines
14Draw11–1–2 Carlo BesaresMD1020 Nov 2004 University of Mindanao Gymnasium, Tagum, Philippines
13Loss11–1–1 Angky AngkotaSD1028 Sep 2004 RCTI Studios, Jakarta, Indonesia
12Win11–0–1 Abrin MattaTKO5 7 Sep 2004 BIN Arena, Jakarta, Indonesia
11Win10–0–1 Marti PoliiTKO7, 2:153 Aug 2004 RCTI Studios, Jakarta, Indonesia
10Win9–0–1 Robert CosteloTKO1, 1:5829 Jun 2004 Gaisano Country Mall Parking Lot, Cebu City, PhilippinesRetained PBF junior-flyweight title
9Win8–0–1 Joseph VillasisTKO1, 1:1622 May 2004 Ynares Sr. Memorial Gym, Binangonan, PhilippinesWon vacant
8Win7–0–1 Robert RubillarTKO7, 1:2228 Mar 2004 Ynares Sr. Memorial Gym, Binangonan, Philippines
7Win6–0–1 Julius Alcos1028 Feb 2004 Sports & Cultural Complex, Mandaue City, Philippines
6Win5–0–1 Rolando BaclayoKO4 27 Dec 2003 Sports Complex, Danao City, Philippines
5Win4–0–1 Roldan Malinao4 4 Oct 2003 Sports & Cultural Complex, Mandaue City, Philippines
4Draw3–0–1 Greg Mangan816 Aug 2003 New Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
3Win3–0 Rommel Tura1 12 Jun 2003 Gaisano Country Mall Parking Lot, Cebu City, Philippines
2Win2–0 Mario Jun de AsisUD631 May 2003 Town Plaza, Catmon, Philippines
1Win1–0 Walter Suaybaguio625 Apr 2003 Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando, Philippines

Titles in boxing

Major World Titles:
'The Ring Titles:
Regional/International Titles:
Special Titles:
A statue of Nietes was built in Murcia, Negros Occidental.