Boom Boom not the first Pinoy pug to suffer first round KO in title fight
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 14 Aug 2007
There is nothing to be ashamed of for fans and handlers of baby-faced Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista.
The 21-year-old junior featherweight phenom from Candijay, Bohol was not the first Filipino fighter to suffer a humiliating first round stoppage defeat in a world title match.
Flyweight contender Diego de Villa owns the distinction of being the first Filipino boxer to be ambushed and demolished in the opening round of a world championship duel.
De Villa, 24, a prot?g? of the late promoter and manager Grego Garcia, was knocked out in the first round by Joo-Do Chun in a battle for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title in Pusan, South Korean on March 17, 1984.
When De Villa was pulverized, he was fighting as a challenger like Bautista who was No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger of World Boxing Organization (WBO) superbantanweight ruler Daniel Ponce De Leon when they fought in the main event of the Mexico versus Philippines World Cup in Sacramento, California last August 12.
The Philippines is actually ahead, 3-2, in world title fights that ended in the first round.
Three of these first-round-KO wins were registered by the following brown bombers:
-Roberto Cruz who tore to pieces Battling Torres for the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior welterwerweight rumble in Los Angeles, California after the World War II;
-Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde, who disposed of Harold Gomes in their rematch for the world junior lightweight crown in San Francisco, California in August 1960 (they first clashed for Gomes? title on March 16, 1960); and
-Luisito Espinosa, who grabbed the WBA bantamweight tiara with a shock upset of Kaokor Galaxy in Bangkok, Thailand in 1989.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
GM Antonio outwits Kazakh GM, shares lead
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 26 Oct 2025Pedro Taduran Defends IBF 105 Belt Against Christian Balunan Sunday
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 25 Oct 2025DAVID ALCAIDE CROWNED INAUGURAL PHILIPPINES OPEN CHAMPION
Sat, 25 Oct 2025Bryce Mills vs. James Bernadin Venue Changed: Randolph House Hotel & Convention Center Will Host Pro/Am Card in Liverpool, New York
Sat, 25 Oct 2025Parker vs. Wardley: Who Will Keep Winning Streak Alive?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 25 Oct 2025Dante “The Inferno” Kirkman Stays Undefeated with Second-Round TKO in Southern California Debut
Sat, 25 Oct 2025Elmo Traya, Reymond Yanong, Ivan Ognayon in Action in Brico Santig's Show Today in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 25 Oct 2025Alessio Bisutti Fights for WBF Heavyweight World Title in Highland Show October 25 in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 25 Oct 2025WEIGHTS FROM NIGHT OF KNOCKOUTS XXXVI AT MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL TONIGHT IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT
Sat, 25 Oct 202530 people arrested in NBA gambling operation
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 25 Oct 2025GM Joey beats CM Marc in Italy World Senior Standard chess tourney to climb at 2nd place
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 25 Oct 2025RomyMac’s Ali memories
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 24 Oct 2025NBA Daily: Warriors Survive Gordon’s 50 to Beat Nuggets in Overtime 137-131
By Reylan Loberternos, Fri, 24 Oct 2025Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. wins world seniors blitz title in Italy
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 24 Oct 2025Russian athlete, first winner of 8 medals in a single Olympic Games, dies
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 24 Oct 2025