The feeling of winning never gets old for Donnie Nietes (39-1-4, 22KO’s). Alongside it is his quest to add another gold to his long list of accomplishments.
And at the young age of 34, he plans to keep on winning.
“Age lang yung tumatanda sa akin pero yung kundisyon ng katawan ko lalong, bumabata,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
After lording over the minimumweight and light-flyweight division for almost 10 years, Nietes looks to conquer new heights. ALA Boxing’s top dog is out for his third divisional world title this month, as he takes on fourth-ranked Komgrich Nantapech (22-3) for the IBF World 112-pound belt in Cebu City.
Coming off a successful flyweight debut last September at Pinoy Pride 38 in California, Nietes says that the new challenges in his new division have given him more than enough motivation to further excel in the squared circle.
“Siyempre umakyat ako ng bagong division so talagang more excited talaga na makuha ko yung titulo na yan. Grabe talaga yung paghahanda ko at lahat gagawin ko,” said Nietes, who is also the current WBO Intercontinental flyweight titleholder.
“Masayang-masaya, makakagawa din ako ng history ko. Makagawa ng pangalan ko at makapagbigay ng karangalan sa mga Filipino boxers. Kaya gusto ko din na umakyat ng timbang at makagawa ng record din, history in boxing para sa bansa natin.”
The Ahas from Murcia says that complacency has no place in his training camp. According to him, it entails a lot of discipline and focus to get ready for this title fight.
“Self-discipline talaga,” the native of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental said.
“Every time na may schedule [na laban] disiplina talaga. Sa katawan, sa timbang, hindi mo talaga pababayaan yung training mo.”
Going for yet another feat, Nietes returns to the country’s boxing mecca — the same place where he started his professional career. He looks forward to achieving history as the third Filipino to win world titles in three different weight classes, against the 27-year-old Thai, who has improved by leaps and bounds since he faced the young Albert Pagara five years ago.
“Magandang laban ‘to kasi sabi ng kasama ko na lumaban sa kanya dati, malaki daw yung pinag improve niya,” Nietes remarked about Nantapech.
“Like talagang ibang-iba na yung movement niya simula nung nagtapat sila so hindi talaga ako nagbibigay ng kumpyansa. Ibibigay ko talaga yung best performance ko, pangatlong division ko na so todo bigay talaga.”
