NANINIWALA si three-division world champion Donnie Nietes na mapapantayan niya ang antas ng mga multi-division world champion ng Pilipinas na sina eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao at five-division beltholder Nonito Donaire Jr. kapag nakuha niya ang WBO super flyweight belt.

Makakaharap ni Nietes, No. 1 sa WBO, ang kababayang si WBO No. 2 Aston Palicte para sa bakanteng WBO super flyweight crown sa “SUPERFLY3 world championship” card sa Setyembre 8 sa The Forum, Los Angeles, California na ipalalabas sa HBO sa United States.

Sa ‘Meet and Greet’ sa Filipino community kamakailan, nagsidalo sina Nietes, Palicte, women’s world title challenger ‘Bang Bang Lulu’ Louisa Hawton, 360 Promotions’ President Tom Loeffler at Event Host Cynthia Conte.

“This fight represents a lot to me as I will seeking my fourth world championship in a fourth different weight division,” sabi ni Nietes sa Boxing Scene.com. “Winning the world title will put me at the level of Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire and will add worldwide recognition to my career.”

“I believe my fight with Aston has a very real possibility of being the best fight of the night,” diin ni Nietes. “We are both training very hard and I am sure that we will be at our very best on September 8 and will give all the fans a great fight.”

Aminado si Nietes na mas matangkad sa kanya si Palicte pero hindi siya nababahala dahil pantay lang sila sa ibabaw ng ring.

“I would be worried if we were playing basketball, but this is boxing and I know how to fight taller opponents and that is why we are working so hard in the gym,” dagdag ni Nietes. “I think it’s very important that Filipino boxing has reached the level where we fight for a world title against each other and at a historic venue like the Forum and on HBO.”

Para naman kay Palicte, kahit kapwa sila Pinoy ni Nietes ay maghaharap pa rin sila sa ring at magkaibigan pa rin pagkatapos ng sagupaan.

“I am happy to have the opportunity to fight for a world championship on such a big card and to be on HBO. The fact the we are both Filipino doesn’t matter, we are both here to do a job and no matter what happens we will still be friends after the fight,” ani Palicte. “I have worked very hard to get here and I want to give the fans the best fight possible and I also believe that our fight could be the best of night as we both have a lot at stake on September 8.”

-Gilbert Espeña