Ahas is getting a shot at gold again.
Remember Donnie “Ahas” Nietes?
The 41-year-old Negrense, who last fought a year ago, will be making a return to the ring on July 22—and for a shot at a world title no less.
The Filipino pride will be taking on Muhammad Waseem, a Pakistani holding a record of 12-2 with 8 KOs.
Granted, that world title is the IBO bantamweight belt only, making it less prestigious and less known than the WBC, IBF, WBA, and WBO diadems.
But still, it is a title shot. It is also a chance for Nietes to make one last push towards becoming one of the world’s best boxers in the lighter divisions. It is a distinction Ahas held for the better part of the last decade as the WBO junior flyweight titleholder from 2011 to 2016. He also won the IBF flyweight crown in 2017 and the WBO junior bantamweight belt in 2018 during that span.
Waseem, though, appears unperturbed by Nietes’ glowing credentials and his 43 wins as against 2 losses and 6 hard-fought draws. In fact, the Pakistani is quite confident that he will beat the Filipino veteran in the match scheduled to take place in Dubai.
“Nietes has been a tough fighter and there is no doubt about it. But his last fights have not been that good, and I know how to fight against him in what could be a very crucial fight for me,” Waseem told The International News. “I have been doing training for over five hours daily... I have achieved top fitness and am hopeful to achieve the required rhythm soon.”
Like Nietes, Waseem has been out of action for an extended period, having last fought in March 2022, when he lost to IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards.
He will have to be at his best to if he is to get the best of the savvy Filipino fighter, who also happens to be looking to reclaim lost glory.