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Boxing: Donnie Nietes vacates IBF title, announces move to 115-pounds

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Santino Honasan, ABS-CBN Sports

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/04/09/nietes.jpg"/><figcaption>Donnie Nietes.</figcaption></figure></div>Donnie Nietes has always wanted to go after the big names, and now he’s set to do so.After ruling the minimumweight, light flyweight, and flyweight divisions, the longest-reigning Filipino boxing world champion makes the jump to his fourth weight division: the super flyweight division.Wednesday morning in Cebu, Nietes announced in a special press conference that he will be vacating his IBF Flyweight World Championship in order completely make the transition to boxing’s 115-pound weight class.“Today, I have made my decision to move up to 115 and vacate my IBF Flyweight world title, this is the challenge I have been waiting for.” Nietes said via ALA Promotions. The Murcia, Negros native ruled the minimum and light flyweight divisions for the better part of a decade before deciding to move up to 112-pounds back in 2017. Not long after, Nietes captured his third world championship in as many weight divisions, beating Thailand’s Eaktwan BTU Ruaviking via Unanimous Decision in Cebu to capture the vacant IBF Flyweight World Championship.Already, murmurs of Nietes eventually moving up in weight to chase the likes of Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzales began to swirl.In February of 2018, Nietes successfully defended his IBF title in Los Angeles, knocking out Argentinian Juan Carlos Reveco in the 7th round. It marked Nietes’ HBO debut, and his coming out party on the biggest stage that he’s been on.After repeatedly expressing his desire to finally jump up to 115-pounds, Nietes and his ALA Boxing team have finally pulled the trigger.“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 at super flyweight.”“This is a new challenge for me, and I am very happy that ALA Promotions has supported me to pursue my dream of a 4th division world title.” Nietes added.Now on the same playing field as the likes of Estrada, Chocolatito, reigning WBC 115-pound champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and reigning IBF 115-pound champion Jerwin Ancajas, Nietes definitely has some big names ahead of him.According to ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer, the first target on Nietes’ crosshairs is the vacant WBO Super Flyweight World Championship.“Donnie Nietes will fight for the WBO vacant World Super flyweight title soon.” said Aldeguer via ALA Promotions. “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.”As Aldeger outlined in a previous interview, a Nietes-Chocolatito matchup for the WBO title could very well be on the horizon for &quot;Ahas&quot;. <div>This story was originally published on the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/boxing/news/2018/04/11/donnie-nietes-vacates-ibf-title-announces-move-115-lbs-40170">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

Donnie Nietes has always wanted to go after the big names, and now he’s set to do so.

Donnie Nietes has always wanted to go after the big names, and now he’s set to do so.

Boxing: Donnie Nietes vacates IBF title, announces move to 115-pounds

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Boxing: Donnie Nietes vacates IBF title, announces move to 115-pounds

Santino Honasan,

ABS-CBN Sports

Published April 11, 2018 09:52 PM PHT

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