BAUTISTA OUT TO PROVE HE DESERVES TITLE SHOT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 May 2007
Emerging ring sensation Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista is out to prove he deserves a title shot against reigning WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon when he clashes with Argentinean champion Sergio Medina in a world title eliminator that kicks off the pay-per-view spectacular ?The World Awaits? which features an epic battle between Oscar De La Hoya and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday (Manila Time).
In the final pre-fight news conference Bautista who, like Medina is undefeated, said he was ?glad to be fighting in the undercard of the biggest fight in the history of boxing? adding that he was ?out to prove that the Philippines has some of the best boxers in the world.?
Respected Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today said Bautista was ?extremely confident? and was in great shape after intensive training alongside De La Hoya in Puerto Rico, under the watchful eye of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach and outstanding Filipino trainer and former two-time world minimum weight title contender Edito ?Ala? Villamor.
But Medina who is nicknamed ?Rocky? and has a 28-0 record with 16 knockouts and according to Dong Secuya of the popular boxing site Philboxing.com ?showed that he was no pushover ? at least in appearance and in form.? Medina flexed his muscles when introduced and had a determined look on his face.
Secuya said that if Medina?s looks are any indication then Bautista who has an unblemished record of 22-0 with 17 KO?s wont have a walk in the park in the battle of the undefeated with the clash expected to be ?a gripping affair between two resolute warriors.?
ABS-CBN which has the exclusive television rights in the Philippines will telecast the Bautista-Medina battle to start off its nationwide telecast over its pre-eminent Channel 2 while pay-per-view would also be available at theaters at Rockwell, SM MegalMall, North Edsa/Souhmall and Gateway. The PPV telecast will also be available on Sky Cable.
Bautista?s stablemate AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (12-0-1, 10 KO?s) will be making his US debut on the mega fight card when he clashes with Mexico?s Juan Antonio Rosas who has an impressive record of 22 knockouts in 25 wins with just two defeats.
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