DONNIE Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion, is moving up to flyweight to test the waters in a fight against former world champion Edgar Sosa, the 36-year-old Mexican veteran ranked No. 4 by the World Boxing Council.
The bout is set for Sept. 24 at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California.
Nietes was originally seeking a title shot against WBO/WBA flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada or, failing that, planned to face Moises Fuentes also of Mexico in a mandatory title defense ordered by the WBO.
However, ALA Promotions’ president Michael Aldeguer told the Manila Standard that Nietes wants to move up in weight and will face Sosa, who has a record of 52-9 with 30 knockouts.
Sosa won the WBC light flyweight championship by beating former champion Brian Viloria by a unanimous decision on April 14, 2007 and went on to defend his title no less than 10 times.
In a highly controversial decision, Sosa lost his title to Rodel Mayol in 2009 after he was badly hurt by a head-butt from Mayol, which sent Sosa to the canvas and caused him to sustain an injury which was later determined to be a triple-fracture.
The referee ruled the headbutt as an unintentional foul and deducted a point from Mayol.
After the ringside doctor inspected the wound, the referee allowed the fight to continue despite Sosa still being groggy from the injury.