RING EDITOR SAYS BAUTISTA CAN COME BACK
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 16 Aug 2007
The editor-in-chief of the “Bible” of boxing Nigel Collins says Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista is “good enough to regroup and come back” in the wake of his stunning first round knockout at the hands of WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in the Philippines-Mexico World Cup in the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California last Sunday, unless the defeat has “taken his confidence.”
Collins said Bautista was"simply outgunned by one of the hardest punching small men in the business." However, the respected Ring Magazine editor-in-chief said Bautista “showed in his earlier victory over Sergio Medina that he can beat world-class opposition.”
Bautista, captain of the World Cup team that beat Mexico 5-1 arrived along with four members of the victorious squad who were welcomed at the Centennial Terminal by NAIA general manager Alfonso Cusi and the assistant general manager for Airport Development & Corporate Affairs Tirso Serrano and accorded the privilege of holding a news conference at the presidential lounge. Also on hand to welcome the boxers were renowned boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, popular sportsman and Mayor of Tagbilaran City, Mayor Dan Neri Lim and Alberto and Susan, parents of “Boom Boom” Bautista.
Bautista who appeared to have recovered from the heartbreak of being the only Filipino who lost, thanked those who continue to be by his side despite his defeat saying “they know this is my dream. I will continue and make no mistake, “Boom Boom” will be back.” Bautista apologized for his loss saying “I’m sorry, he beat me to the punch. But that’s boxing and even though I lost the Philippines won the World Cup and that’s the most important thing.”
Aldeguer’s son Michael who has assumed the mantle of being in the forefront of the ALA Gym’s boxing program disclosed that Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions signed a three-year deal with Bautista showing the “confidence they have in ‘Boom Boom’ is still there and one day we will get the championship for sure.”
Internationally renowned matchmaker Samson Lewkowicz who arrived on the same Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles said “we went to a war, Philippines vs Mexico, and in every war regardless what it is, you’ve got casualties. We have ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista but he will come back strong and to Golden Boy even in defeat we still love him. The Philippines will still love him. Even though he lost, as a team we won the war. We have the cup.”
Lewkowicz said he was “not concerned about the future of Bautista. He is only 21 years old. Sometimes you need to learn from your first defeat because he tried to fight with his heart for his pride, for the honor of his country. Not with the head as a boxer and he was caught and paid the price. It will not happen again. He will fight for glory but use his head.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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