PROBELLUM Promotion chief Richard Schaefer yesterday promised Donnie Nietes unification fights if the Filipino veteran wrests the World Boxing Organization super flyweight championship from Japan’s Kazuto Ioka tonight at the Ota City Gymnasium in Ota, Japan.
The veteran promoter said in the event the Pinoy “Ahas” regains the 115-pound world title, unification fights against the likes of Mexican Juancho Francisco Estrada and American Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez will be on the table.
Estrada and Rodriguez hold the World Boxing Association super and World Boxing Council belts, respectively.
Nietes, 40, won by split division over Ioka, 33, in their battle for the same WBO junior bantam belt on Dec. 31, 2018 at the Cotai Arena at the Wynn Palace Hotel in Macau.
“Boxing is like an addiction and it’s very difficult for fighters to let go,” Schaefer said on the eve of the title clash. “And when you do become world champion again at age 40, who is going to stop you?
“Who is going to tell you that you cannot go and try to pursue a unification fight?
Schaefer, who also promotes Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr., noted that “for a long time, the lower weight classes were neglected but now that has changed. And today they are extremely popular with fight fans and networks.”
