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LOS ANGELES, JULY 11 – Richard Schaefer says the “special” Donnie Nietes will chase major unification fights after regaining his world title.Nietes is in Tokyo, Japan to challenge WBO junior bantamweight champion Kazuto Ioka on Wednesday night at the Ota-City Gymnasium.

The Filipino hero, 40, defeated Ioka in 2018 to win that belt but would soon vacate the title and nearly four years on, he heads into “enemy territory” to take it back.

And Probellum President Schaefer says once Nietes has reclaimed the WBO crown, he will target unification showdowns with the other world champions, including Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Juan Francisco Estrada.

Boxing is like an addiction and it’s very difficult for fighters to let go,” Schaefer said.

FULL INTERVIEW WITH SCHAEFER ON ‘UNDERAPPRECIATED’ NIETES

“And when you do become world champion again at age 40, who is going to stop you?

“Who is going to tell you that you cannot go and try to pursue a unification fight?

“For a long time, the lower weight classes were the neglected but now that has changed, and today, they are extremely popular with fight fans and networks.

“It’s the right time to be in those weight classes and would I not be surprised if Donnie, once he’s world champion again, says: ‘Hey, I might as well add a few more titles.’”

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About Probellum???
Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promoter, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.

Following the success of the opening two shows in December 2021, Probellum has already held back-to-back world championship nights in Dubai, as well as a packed card in Newcastle.

The world title action then headed to Liverpool last month where Paul Butler won the WBO bantamweight crown.

Probellum’s elite stable of fighters also includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Sunny Edwards, Eimantas Stanionis, Donnie Nietes and Dina Thorslund.

But the company has also recruited the next generation of stars with Peter McGrail, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack, Shabaz Masoud and Spencer Wilcox among the young talents under the Probellum umbrella.

Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including DiBella Entertainment (US), Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).???? ? 
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