KAPWA mapapanood sa buong mundo ang dalawang Pinoy world champion matapos maisama ang kani-kanilang laban sa HBO Boxing After Dark sa Feb. 24 sa The Forum sa Inglewood, California.
Sasabak si Donnie’Ahas’ Nietes para sa unang pagdepensa sa International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title kontra Juan Carlos Reveco ng Argentina, habang magtatangka ang dating four-time titleholder na si Brian ‘The Hawaiian Punch’ Viloria kontra walang talo at No. 1 contender Artem Dalakian ng Ukraine para sa bakanteng World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight crown.
Kasama ang laban nina Nietes at Viloria sa undercard ng itinakdang ‘Superfly2’ na magtatampok sa laban nina reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight king Srisaket Sor Rungvisai kontra Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada.
Ang 12-round match sa pagitan nina Nietes at Reveco ay dagdag sa fight card na inilunsad nitong Martes.
Gayunman, hindi ito alintana ni Nietes na magbabalik aksiyon sa unang pagkakataon mula nang mapagwagihan ang IBF championship nitong Abril via unanimous decision kontra Komgrich Nantapech ng Thailand.
“Fighting in Los Angeles for the third time in front of the great Filipino fans along with fighting on HBO is a great honor for me,” sambit ni Nietes (40-1-4, 22 KOs). “I know how tough Reveco is, but we’ll be prepared to defend my title.”
“We’re very proud to add one of the Philippines’ longest standing warriors and four-time world champion Donnie Nietes to this tremendous event as he defends his world title against three-time world champion Juan Carlos Reveco at The Forum on Feb. 24 and live on HBO,” pahayag naman ni Tom Loeffler ng 360 Boxing Promotions sa panayam ng HBO.
Si Reveco (39-3, 19KOs) ay dating world light-flyweight and flyweight champion sa WBA. Ito ang unang laban niya sa U.S.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to finally fight in the United States and against a great champion in Donnie Nietes,” pahayag ni Reveco. “I know there will be a huge amount of Argentinian fans at the Forum for the fight, and I look forward to winning the IBF flyweight title in front of them.”
Target naman ng nagbabalik boxing na si Viloria na makamit ang ikalimang world title laban sa mapanganib na si Dalakian (15-0, 11 KOs). Ang paglalabanan nilang titulo ay binakantehan ni Estrada.
“I still love the sport,” pahayag ng 37-anyos na si Viloria. “I’m fighting for my fifth world title, but I feel that I’m fighting for my first.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs. To be part of Superfly 2, if you saw the first one, it was great,” aniya.