INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- HBO has found success with their "SuperFly" cards, featuring some of the more exciting, and smaller fighters in the sport. On Sept. 8 they will televise "SuperFly 3" which will include a title fight between Donnie Nietes (41-1-4, 23 KOs) and Aston Palicte (24-2, 20 KOs). The title these two Filipino pugilists will be fighting for is a vacant WBO junior bantamweight strap.
The 36-year-old Nietes fights out of the orthodox stance. He works behind a very quick jab that he uses to sting opponents and measure the distance for a strong right hand. Defensively Nietes has displayed a strong chin and in a career that has spanned 15 years, he has never been dropped. He is also quite skilled at being just out of range for his opponents to do damage, while staying in punching range to do damage of his own. Being a sound defensive fighter is always a good thing, especially when you have to face a puncher like Palicte.
Nietes has fought professionally since 2003 and it's been over a decade since he last tasted defeat. The last loss of Nietes' career came in 2004 and since that loss he has gone 30-0-3 with 15 knockouts. A win on Saturday for Nietes would give him a title in a fourth weight class, putting him in the company of other greats who have achieved similar feats. The Filipino veteran has previously won titles in the strawweight, junior flyweight, and flyweight divisions and will look to add another belt to his collection by beating the much younger and taller Palicte.
Palicte is also an orthodox fighter who hails from the Philippines. Not only is he nine years younger than Nietes but he is also 4-inches taller and naturally bigger in physique. The young fighter has a stiff jab and will follow it with a strong straight right hand that can do serious damage. On the inside Palicte also flashes a good left hook to the body and will often throw uppercuts on the inside with his left. Palicte has shown good power throughout his career, especially with his right hand, but he has also been dropped a few times so he can't just stand and trade heavy leather and isn't nearly as good defensively as Nietes is.
Without a doubt the fight bout against Nietes will be the biggest fight of Palicte's career. That career started in 2010 and Saturday will mark his first time fighting for a world title. His last loss came in 2016 to a fighter with a record of 14-4-1 but he has gone 4-0 with three knockouts since. Palicte should be hungry to win his first world title but beating a skilled veteran like Nietes won't be an easy task.
The best chance Palicte has to upset Nietes is to use his size advantage. If he can stay on the outside, use his jab to measure the distance, and land heavy right hands he could find success. When he gets inside he needs to bang the body but also lean and push down on the shoulders and neck of the smaller Nietes. Beating Nietes won't come easy though, especially considering that the veteran is the more skilled boxer. Palicte has knocked out plenty of opponents but none at the level of Nietes. Look for Nietes to impose his skill advantage and superior defense to consistently be out of range of, or smother the punches of Palicte. If he can frustrate Palicte with his movement he can take the fight over.
PREDICTION: Aston Palicte is a big puncher but he's never had to punch someone with as good of a chin as Donnie Nietes has. Nietes is the superior boxer and his skills will be on full display against the younger fighter as he cruises to a clear unanimous decision victory.
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| Nietes landing a hard right hand |
Nietes has fought professionally since 2003 and it's been over a decade since he last tasted defeat. The last loss of Nietes' career came in 2004 and since that loss he has gone 30-0-3 with 15 knockouts. A win on Saturday for Nietes would give him a title in a fourth weight class, putting him in the company of other greats who have achieved similar feats. The Filipino veteran has previously won titles in the strawweight, junior flyweight, and flyweight divisions and will look to add another belt to his collection by beating the much younger and taller Palicte.
Palicte is also an orthodox fighter who hails from the Philippines. Not only is he nine years younger than Nietes but he is also 4-inches taller and naturally bigger in physique. The young fighter has a stiff jab and will follow it with a strong straight right hand that can do serious damage. On the inside Palicte also flashes a good left hook to the body and will often throw uppercuts on the inside with his left. Palicte has shown good power throughout his career, especially with his right hand, but he has also been dropped a few times so he can't just stand and trade heavy leather and isn't nearly as good defensively as Nietes is.
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| Palicte celebrating a victory with a Filipino flag |
The best chance Palicte has to upset Nietes is to use his size advantage. If he can stay on the outside, use his jab to measure the distance, and land heavy right hands he could find success. When he gets inside he needs to bang the body but also lean and push down on the shoulders and neck of the smaller Nietes. Beating Nietes won't come easy though, especially considering that the veteran is the more skilled boxer. Palicte has knocked out plenty of opponents but none at the level of Nietes. Look for Nietes to impose his skill advantage and superior defense to consistently be out of range of, or smother the punches of Palicte. If he can frustrate Palicte with his movement he can take the fight over.
PREDICTION: Aston Palicte is a big puncher but he's never had to punch someone with as good of a chin as Donnie Nietes has. Nietes is the superior boxer and his skills will be on full display against the younger fighter as he cruises to a clear unanimous decision victory.
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