After conquering both the World Boxing Organization minimumweight and the junior flyweight divisions and staying undefeated for seven years, Negrense champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes said he is ready to move up to a higher weight division and improve his craft.

But the final decision, he said, will be made by his manager, the ALA Promotions represented by its CEO and president, Michael Aldeguer.

Nietes said ALA Promotions knows what is best for his career and he entrusts to the management all the decision-making.

At 32, Nietes, who is set to claim the record of being the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion in the next couple of the months, said retirement is far from his mind right now.

While he admits that he is eventually going to quit and pass on the reign to a new champion, the soft-spoken boxer from Murcia and Bacolod City said he it will be four to five years more before he hangs up his gloves for good.

His 7th round victory against Mexican Carlos Velarde in Cebu Saturday, earned him the 34th win and 20th knockout of his career. The only blight in his record was the loss via split decision against Indonesian Angky Angkotta on September 28, 2004.

For what he has achieved so far, Nietes remains humble and is focused on improving his skills as a boxer. He said he is lucky to have a good manager and a supportive family and benefactors, among them, the officials in the town of Murcia where he was born, and of Bacolod City, who always recognize his every victory.

His message to the young boxers who wish to follow his footsteps is to remain humble and never to let success go into their heads.

When he comes home this week, a hero’s welcome awaits him, both Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano and Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said.

Montelibano, who never fails to watch every title defense fight of Nietes since he moved up from minimumweight to junior flyweight, said the boxer is a source of inspiration for all aspiring Murciahanon ring fighter.

Puentevella, on the other hand, said they will have a motorcade for Nietes when he arrives in Bacolod as his triumph underscores the capability of the Bacolodnons to be the best in the world.*NAB

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