Nietes (35-1-4, 21 KOs), is coming off a technical decision (RTD) win against Gilbert Parra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last March to retain his WBO light flyweight title.
Except for three draw verdicts, Nietes has won his last 26 fights since his lone loss to Anky Angkota in 2004 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The 33-year-old Nietes, who hails from Murcia, Negros Occidental is confident he will win against Rodriguez to remain as the longest reigning Filipino world champion.
“Rodriguez is a good boxer and should not be overlooked,” said Nietes, who has not lost a fight at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel & Casino.
Rodriguez (17-2-1, 11 KOs), who hails from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico has won four straight fights since losing to Roman Gonzales in 2013.
Rodriguez’s last two fights were against a Filipino opponent. In November last year, he fought Jomar Fajardo at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino with the fight ending in a draw. In a rematch held in Mexico last January, Rodriguez outpointed Fajardo in a unanimous decision win.
The Nietes-Rodriguez fight will be the main attraction of the “Pinoy Pride 31,” a boxing championship series by ALA Promotions.
