Bantilan shoots for IBO Asia-Pacific crown vs Butar-Butar in Jakarta
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 27 Oct 2007
Rex ?Wakee? Salud ward Van ?Holyfield? Bantilan impressed his handlers in the last phase of his sparring session at the Jaro Boxing Gym in Binangonan, Rizal Thursday afternoon engaging RP No. 4 bantamweight contender Edgar Gabjean in a fierce no-holds barred 6-round exchange of fire to the delight of the audience.
?He really is determined to slug it out with (Simson) Butar-Butar with the way he allowed Gabjean to hit him hard in the face and body,? commented Bantilan?s manager Chad Colocado who watched the action together with gym owner Aljoe Jaro who is also boxing manager and promoter.
The 28-year-old townmate of Asia?s first world boxing champion Pancho Villa in Ilog, Negros Occidental, finished the sparring session unmarked, his 10th since he started revving up for the Nov. 5 battle for the vacant IBO Asia-Pacific 130-lb title vs Butar-Butar in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Bantilan (11-0-1, 5 KOs), who stopped Romeo Buhawi in the fourth round in his last fight in February this year in Cebu, is a mainstay of the Wakee Salud Boxing International where he acts as one of the caretakers especially during the recent training in Cebu of Manny Pacquiao.
?Indi ko mag promisa pero tinguhaon ko nga makuha ang korona. Away gina pangita ta mo (I won?t promise anything but I will try my best to get the crown as I am always hankering for a fight),? said Bantilan, bronze medalist in the 1997 1st LGUlympics where he represented Iloilo City.
Colocado admits that Bantilan?s fight with Butar-Butar (16-7, 12 KOs) is not a walk in the park considering that the Indon phenom has scored back-to-back wins over Bohol?s famed boxer Czar Amonsot, the last of which was a brutal one-punch first round knockout in Tagbilaran, Bohol on September 23, 2006.
Butar-Butar?s last fight was a knockout win over Primus Phyton in Jakarta on July 7, 2007.
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