NIETES MANDATORY CHALLENGER FUENTES IN BIG WIN

Photo: Nietes (L) and Fuentes (R) battled to
draw last March in Cebu, Philippines. 

The mandatory challenger to WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes has scored a big win in an Interim title showdown with Colombia's Luis De La Rosa hammering De La Rosa into submission at 2:40 of the opening round. 

Fuentes pounced on the hapless De La Rosa who lost by an 8th round TKO in a title fight against Merlito "Tiger Sabillo" last March and forced referee Jose Hiram Rivera to call a halt at 2:40 of the very first round. 

Fuentes and Nietes had battled to a close majority draw last March 2 enabling Nietes to retain his title with American judges Adalaide Byrd and Pat Russel scoring the fight an even 114-114 even as Filipino judge Danrex Tapdasan scored it for Nietes 115-113. 

Even before the fight the Nietes camp had objected to the assignment of a Filipino referee but were over-ruled by the WBO. 

However, the WBO indicated that after one voluntary title defense by Nietes which is likely to take place in Dubai on November 29, Fuentes will get a mandatory shot at the title of Nietes, provided the Filipino retains his crown. 

With the win Fuentes improvs to 18-1-1 with 9 knockouts while De La Rosa drops to 22-3-1 with 12 knockouts.