BINITIWAN ni three-division world titlist Donnie Nietes ng Pilipinas ang kanyang IBF flyweight crown at kaagad inilista ng WBO bilang No. 1 contender kaya posibleng kumasa laban kay No. 2 ranked Aston Palicte na isa ring Pilipino para sa WBO super flyweight title.

Inihayag nitong Miyerkules ni Nietes na opisyal niyang binitiwan ang IBF flyweight belt noong nakaraaang Abril 5 matapos ang matagumpay na depensa laban kay dating world champion Juan Carlos Reveco ng Arhentina nitong Pebrero 24 sa Inglewood, California sa United States.

“Today, I have made my decision to move up to 115 and vacate my IBF flyweight world title,” sabi ni Nietes sa nagsidalong taga-media sa Cebu City. “This is the challenge I have been waiting for. To go up in weight is never easy, but this is my dream, to become a four-division world champion and to fight all the big names. This is a new challenge for me, and I am very happy that ALA Promotions has supported me to pursue my dream of a fourth division world title.”

Isa sa pinakasikat na dibisyon sa professional boxing ang super flyweight class kung saan kampeon sina Srisaket Sor Rungvisai ng Thailand (WBC), Khalid Yafai ng United Kingdom (WBA) at Pilipino ring si Jerwin Ancajas (IBF) gayundin ang mga dating kampeong sina Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez ng Nicaragua at Juan Francisco Estrada ng Mexico.

May cash incentives din; Karl Eldrew Yulo, tumanggap ng ₱500K mula kay Chavit!

May rekord si Nietes na 41-1-4 win-loss-draw na may 23 panalo sa knockouts at natalo lamang sa kontrobersiyal na 8-round split decision sa overweight na si one-time world title challenger Angky Angkota sa Jakarta, Indonesia noong 2004.

“Donnie Nietes will fight for the title soon,” sabi ni ALA Promotions big boss Michael Aldeguer. “We are looking forward to making the biggest fights for Donnie in the next couple of years. He is an epitome of what a great and humble athlete should be. He deserves all the success he has now.” - Gilbert Espeña