[caption id="attachment_5861" align="alignleft" width="300"] Photo: Dong Secuya[/caption]

Cebu City, Philippines - The longest reigning Filipino champion and the lone champion from the Philippines Donnie Nietes retained his light flyweight title by outpointing the 22-year old  mandatory challenger Mexican Francisco Rodriguez Jr. on Saturday night at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City.

Nietes dominated Rodriquez in a tactical fight and won via unanimous decision. Two judges had it for Nietes in a wide margin: Robert Hecko 119-109 and Lisa Giampa 118-110, while judge Benoit Roussel had it little bit closer at 115-113.

Nietes, 33, now improves his record to 36 wins, with 21 wins by way of knockout,  1 defeat, and 4 draws. Rodriguez on the other hand falls to 17 wins, 3 defeats and a draw.

With the win Nietes, defended his championship for nearly eight years since winning the minimum weight championship in 2007 and the longest reigning Filipino champion in Philippine boxing history.

What's next for Donnie Nietes

Nietes could probably move up to the talent packed 112 pound division with Roman Gonzalez sitting at the top of the division with other titlist Juan Francisco Estrada (43-0, 37 KOs) , Amnat Ruenroeng (16-0, 5 KOs), who recently successfully defended title against Jhonriel Casimero (21-3, 13 KOs), Moruti Mthalane (31-2, 20 KO's) and Brian Viloria (35-4, 21 KOs).

Estrada would be an "easy fight" says Villamor, Donnie Nietes trainer.

The Nietes-Rodriguez match-up is the 31st edition of the successful ALA's Pinoy Pride Series.

The next installment could be in Dubai as the advertisement for a card dubbed "Duel in Dubai II" has been airing on ABS-CBN's The Filipino Channel (TFC) in the Middle East.

Longest reigning Filipino champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes and his Mexican challenger Francisco Rodriguez Jr. both weighed in at the light flyweight limit at 108 pounds during Friday's official weigh-in held at the activity center of SM City Cebu.

Nietes will be defending his light flyweight title this Saturday for the seventh time at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Nietes looked very strong without any indication of weight struggle despite fighting at light flyweight all these years. Rodriquez's cheeks although deeply set had no problem making the weight despite plans of moving up in weight.

Win or lose, I believed that both fighters will be moving up in weight in their next fight to join the mix of a very loaded flyweight division championed by pound-for-pound top two, Roman Gonzalez.

[caption id="attachment_1902" align="alignnone" width="640"] Photo Credit: Alvin S. Go[/caption]

Leading up to the big profile fights coming up next month; this week’s matches were more of contenders and upcoming prospects except for a title fight between Merlito Sabillo against Francisco Rodriquez Jr.in the strawweight division.

Francisco Rodriguez Jr. KO10 Merlito Sabillo, Strawweights

In the get-go Mexican challenger Francisco Rodriquez Jr. (14-2, 10 KO's) set the tune of the fight bombarding the previously unbeaten, Merlito Sabillo, now dropped his record to 23 wins 1 loss 1 draw and 12 knockouts, with overwhelming volume of punches to the head and body of the champion.

There's no room for the champion to breath and in the tenth round Sabillo's corner pulled the plug. Trainer Edito Villamor stepped in, which opted referee Eddie Claudio to stopped the contest.

Prior to the stoppage it is evident that an upset is inevitable as Rodriguez scored twin knockdown in the second round, although the second knockdown was ruled out a slip. Sabillo survived the first knockdown and able to beat the count but look fragile as he hit the canvas again.

With Sabillo's defeat, boxing world champions from the Philippines now reduced to two -- Donnie Nietes and John Riel Casimero.

In November, Sabillo escaped a draw and retained his title against Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua.

Here are the notable fight results this week.

• Anselmo Moreno UD12 Javier Chacon, Bantamweights


• Hugo Ruiz KO1 Ramon Maas, Bantamweights


• Juan Carlos Reveco KO2 Manuel Vides, Flyweights


• Humberto Soto UD10 Juan Carlos Abreu, Junior Welterweights


• Anthony Peterson MD10 Marcos Jimenez, Lightweights


• Felix Verdejo KO3 Juan Santiago, Lightweights


• Luis Cruz UD5 Carlos Velazquez, Lightweights


• Michael Farenas TKO 2 Hector Velazquez, Junior Lightweights


• Tony Thompson SD 12 Odlanier Solis, Heavyweights


• Vanes Martirosyan UD 10 Mario Alberto Lozano, Middleweights


• Vivian Harris MD 10 Jorge Paez Jr., Welterweights


• Teerachai Kratingdaenggym TKO 7 Behzod Nabiev, Welterweights

Do you have something to add? Feel free to add that result in the comment box below.