By Jake Donovan

Donnie Nietes knew going into Saturday's bout with Gilberto Parra that a win would lead to a much bigger 2015 in-ring campaign.

True to form, the best junior flyweight in the world took care of present business at hand, battering Parra into submission after nine rounds of action Saturday evening at home in the Philippines.

Next on deck is a rare mandatory defense that fans can actually celebrate. Nietes will move forward with a showdown versus former unified strawweight titlist Francisco Rodriguez Jr.

The bout is targeted for July 4 in Cebu, Philippines.

Nietes has now made six successful defenses of his 108 lb. belt following a lengthy stay at strawweight. The de facto leader of the junior flyweight division is being groomed for a fall showdown with unified flyweight titlist Juan Francisco Estrada, who fights later this evening in Mexico.

First he has to get past Rodriguez, who has endured peaks and valleys in recent times but remains a dangerous threat in the lower weight classes.

Rodriguez Jr. was merely another victim of pound-for-pound entrant Roman Gonzalez prior to a breakout 2014 campaign. The career-best year included a 10th round stoppage of previously unbeaten Merlito Sabillo to snatch a strawweight belt, but it was his incredible war with Katsunari Takayama last summer that left fans breathless.

The bout was hailed as BoxingScene.com 2014 Fight of the Year, also netting Rodriguez two titles. It remains his last great moment however, as he required two tries to get past journeyman Jomar Fajardo, scoring 10-round win earlier this year after being held to a debatable draw last fall.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox