WORLD Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes expressed his readiness to defend his title against WBO strawweight titleholder Moses Fuentes of Mexico most likely in February or in March.

Nietes, 30, told The Manila Times that he is preparing very well since last year after learning that he would fight against the tall and young fighter Fuentes, 27, who has 16-1 card with eight KOs.

“He [Fuentes] has the moves and the skills. At the same time, he is tall,” said Nietes, who currently trains in Cebu. “But I’m not worried. I will give my best to successfully defend my title.”

Nietes, who successfully defended his crown against Danai Meendaeng of Thailand via fifth round technical knockout in November, said he has no plan of moving up to the flyweight class if ever he defeated Fuentes.

“There are so many Filipinos there in the flyweight division,” said Nietes, referring to his compatriots WBO flyweight champ Brian Viloria, Milan Melindo and Froilan Saludar. “I’m fine here.”

Nietes holds a 31-1-3 win-loss-draw slate with 17 knockouts.

“A champion has to fight the best,” Fuentes, who ended the career of Ivan Calderon in October with a fifth round knockout told RingTV.com reporter Ryan Songalia.

“The winner will be whoever had the best preparation for the fight, Donnie Nietes or Moises Fuentes. It’s not Philippines versus Mexico, it’s just him and me,” he added.