Donnie Nietes vs Muhammad Waseem Preview July 22nd 2023
Former four division world champion Donnie Nietes of the Philippines is back in the ring this Saturday, July 22nd for the first time in 12 months when he clashes with veteran Muhammad Waseem of Pakistan. The 12-rounder from Dubai is for the IBO World Bantamweight Title and can be seen live on the FITE network. Nietes last boxed in July, 2022 when he dropped a wide 12-round unanimous decision to Kazuto Ioka of Japan in a shot at the WBO Super Flyweight Title. It was a rematch of their 2018 battle which saw Nietes win by split decision to win the vacant WBO Super Flyweight belt. Waseem last boxed in March, 2022 when he dropped a unanimous decision to Sunny Edwards in a shot at the IBF Flyweight Title.
Ioka vs Nietes Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Donnie Nietes +190
- Muhammad Waseem -240
My Pick
Donnie Nietes should end up in the Hall of fame as he’s won world titles in four weight divisions as a pro and has been beaten just twice in his career. However, he’s now 41 years of age and in the twilight of his career with a draw and loss in his last two contests. Still, he’ll climb into the ring with an impressive record of 43-2-6 with 23 Ko’s to his name. His first defeat came at the hands of Angky Angkotta by way of a 10-round split decision back in 2004 and his second defeat came to Ioka in his last fight 12 months ago.
Nietes’ six draws came against Norbelto Jiminez, Aston Palicte, Moises Fuentes, Greg Mangan, Carlo Besares and Nino Suelo throughout the years. He isn’t known as a power puncher though as he possesses average power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 45 per cent. His last stoppage win came in 2018 and he’s stopped just three of his last 11 opponents. His biggest wins have been against Ioka, Juan Carlos Reveco, Edgar Sosa, Raul Garcia, Carlos Velarde, Manuel Vargas and Erik Ramirez.
Nietes was also the WBO Minimumweight Champion from September of 2007 to August, 2010 and defended it four times. He then defended his Light Flyweight Title nine times over a five-year span and was also a world flyweight champion. He turned pro two decades ago in 2003 and has fought 390 rounds since. He stands 5-feet-3-inches tall and has a reach of 65 inches. While Nietes has enjoyed an excellent career he isn’t very well known outside of the Philippines and Asia. His record in world title fights is 17-1-2 with 7 Ko’s and he’s gone 9-1-1 with 3 Ko’s against former, current, and future world champions.
He hasn’t fought much on the road, but outside of his homeland he’s gone 10-1-2 with 3 Ko’s. The former champ has also won some minor and regional titles as a pro including the Philippines Boxing Federation Light Flyweight Title, the WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight Title and the WBO Inter-Continental Flyweight Title. He’s one of just four Asian boxers to win world championships in four or more weight divisions and one of three Filipino boxers to achieve the feat along with Nonito Donaire and Manny Pacquiao. Also, his 14 world title defences is a record for a Filipino.
As for Waseem, he’s 35 years old and known as ‘Falcon.’ He carries around a record of 12-2 with 8 Ko’s and has boxed 101 rounds since making his pro debut in 2015. He had a fine amateur as he won a bronze medal at the 2009 Ahmet Comert Tournament, a gold at the 2010 SportAccord Combat Games, bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, gold at the 2011 Benazir Bhutto Tournament, gold at the 2012 Pakistani National Championships and silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where he lost to Andrew Maloney in the final.
Waseem measures 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 66.5-inch reach which gives him a three-inch height advantage over Nietes as well as a 1.5-inch edge in reach. He has decent power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 57.2 per cent and has stopped five of his last nine opponents. Waseem’s first pro defeat came at the hands of Moruti Mthalane in July 18 when he dropped a close unanimous decision in a shot at the vacant IBF Flyweight Title even though he dropped Mthalane in the 11th round.
His only other loss came in his last outing against Sunny Edwards, which was also for the IBF Flyweight Belt. Since turning pro, Waseem has captured the vacant WBC Silver Flyweight Title in 2016 when he beat Jether Oliva by a 12-round unanimous decision and somehow earned the vacant South Korea Bantamweight Belt in 2015 by stopping Min Wook Lee in the ninth round in his pro debut. Waseem’s biggest pro win was an eighth-round unanimous decision over former world champion Ganigan Lopez in 2019.
Prediction…
Nietes has had a hall of fame career but considering he’s 41 years old, winless in his last two fights, and gives up reach and height to the younger Waseem, the odds are against him here. He definitely hasn’t looked as sharp recently and has fought just three times since December, 2018. Waseem also has good boxing skills and more power than Nietes but certainly lacks his pro experience. This should be more of a boxing chess match than a brawl and it’s hard to go against Nietes but I think at this stage of their careers Waseem should be able to do just enough to beat him.
Nietes is 41 years of age and on the downswing.
Play: Waseem -240 @ BetOnline.ag
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Donnie Nietes betting • Muhammad Waseem betting