40-year-old former four-weight world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes says he still has plenty left in the tank and plans to work his back into title contention after his world title defeat to WBO junior bantamweight champion Kazuto Ioka Wednesday night in Tokyo.
“I lost the fight on points, and I felt that Ioka did not want to try and deliver a knockout win for his fans and was just happy to win the fight on the scorecards,” Nietes told Probellum.com. “I was not able to put as much pressure on Ioka as I would have liked. I was waiting for Ioka to move in and throw his shots, so that I could hit him with my big counters, but it didn’t happen often enough.
“I was defeated but, without question, I can still fight for world titles again.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that I can challenge once again, and I see myself probably having one or two more fights at world level before I hang up my gloves inside the ring,” Nietes added.
Why is it hard for aging boxers to admit that they are past their prime?
Guess it is like Sugar Ray Leonard said – Imagine giving something up in your life that is the best of all the things you can do.
Might have a better chance at flyweight if he can make it. 115 at the moment is absolutely stacked. OR, when Inoue vacates all of those belts at bantamweight, maybe he could move up, but who knows when that would be and Nietes is running out of time.
Even at 40, Nietes still good enough to defeat some top guys. Nietes vs Cuadras in a crossroad fight or getting the winner of Estrada vs Franco could be a good fight too