Donnie Nietes scored a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over Mexican challenger Mario Rodriguez Sunday under sweltering conditions to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight title for the fourth time in Guasave, Mexico.

Nietes dominated the first eight rounds, according to reports from Guasave where temperatures reached almost 40 degrees Celsius and all three judges saw it in favor of the classy champion from Negros.

The scores were 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112.

Nietes received instructions in the corner from Ala Villamor.

Los Angeles-based orthodontist cum cutman Ed De La Vega, Edmond Villamor and ALA Boxing Club executive Dennis Canete were also there to boost the morale of Nietes.

It was Nietes’ third appearance on Mexican soil, where Filipinos have failed miserably the past few months.

Nietes fights under the revered stable of Tony Aldeguer, whose boxing factory in Cebu, has produced some of the country’s top ringsters.