The next `Mexecutioner'?

Nietes in action

HE’S no Manny Pacquiao, but Filipino Donnie Nietes is out to prove he too, can be a Mexican executioner.

Not minding the hostile crowd expected to show up at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico, Nietes stakes his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight title against Erik Ramirez on Sunday.

Both the Filipino and the challenger made the limit yesterday during the official weigh-in Oaxaca. Nietes came in at a trim 104. 3 pounds, while Ramirez checked in at exactly 105 pounds.

The champion is making the second title defense of the 105-pound belt he won Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym in 2007, but will be fighting for the first time in a country known for its rich boxing history.

Ranked no. 2 by the WBO and sixth by the World Boxing Council (WBC), Ramirez will carry the hopes of thousand Mexicans to finally score one against a Filipino champion in the light of Manny Pacquiao’s string of victories over boxing legends from Mexico, among them include Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Hector Velasquez, Jorge Solis and to a great extent David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya, both of whom had Mexican descent.

Ramirez has a ring record of 25-5-1 with 19 knockouts. He has won his last five fights and is coming off a unanimous 10-round decision over Jose Ortiz.

But Nietes (23-1-3 with 14 KOs) is undaunted of the tough task ahead of him.

“I will prove that I can defend my title even in Mexico,” said the Filipino, whose chief trainer Edmund Villamor prepared Nietes under the watchful eye of renowned Hall of Famer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

“Medyo nahirapan lang siyang nag-adjust nung first two days namin sa U.S. Pero after he settled down, everything went right sa training namin,” said Villamor.

Nietes successfully defended his WBO crown last August with a second round stoppage of Nicaraguan Eddy Castro at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.

He hasn’t loss in the last five years, the lone setback in his pro career coming in September 2004 following a split decision defeat to Angky Angkota of Indonesia.