BAUTISTA VS MENDOZA FACE TO FACE: THE BETTER CHIN WINS (PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 Dec 2011
Lapu-lapu City ? Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista (31W-2L, 23 KO's) of the ALA Gym and Miguel Angel Mendoza (17W-0L-1D, 17 KO's) of Mexico predicted knockout wins during the final press conference held Thursday noon for PINOY PRIDE X held at the EGI City by Sea Hotel Resort.
When asked to comment about Mendoza's earlier prediction that he would win by sixth round knockout, Bautista answered ?Maybe he won't even reach the sixth. We'll see on the day of the fight but this will not be my hardest fight.?
?One of them will go down,? ALA gym trainer Edito Villamor predicted, ?Both are power punchers and fans should expect a great fight. We have adjustments prepared for Boom-Boom. What we saw in Mendoza's fight videos may be different on fight night. They may change and adjust his wild punches.?
Bautista will make the first defense of his IBF International featherweight title against Mendoza this Saturday at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-lapu City. Both are power punchers with Mendoza sporting the higher KO percentage. But in a battle of hurlers, the better catcher will win.
ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer said that this fight will determine if Bautista is ready for a rematch against Daniel Ponce de Leon or a world title shot.
IBF fight supervisor Ray Wheatley spoke about Bautista's chances for a title shot against Billy Dib next year. ?Bautista is in a good positon for a world title shot. He is ranked number 5 in the IBF. The top two positions are vacant and there are only two boxers ranked above him. He could fight for an eliminator next year.?
In the supporting main event another Mexican, Marcos ?Geraldito? Cardenas (12W-0L-1D, 9 KO's) will face another unbeaten prospect Genesis ?Asukal? Servania (15W-0L, 5 KO's) of Bacolod City. This will be Cardenas' first fight outside of Mexico. Servania had a one-sided unanimous decision win against his first foreign opponent, Gerson Guerrero, also from Mexico, last September.
?The knockout will happen,? Servania said, ?If the opportunity is there, then I'll go for it.?
L-R: IBF supervisor Ray Wheatley, Rey Bautista, Miguel Angel Mendoza and ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer pose during Thursday's press conference of Pinoy Pride X at the EGI Resort Hotel in Mactan, Cebu.
Genesis Servania (L) and Marcos Cardenas.
Rocky Fuents (L) and Lookdiaw Tor Buamas.
The boxers, officials and trainers for this Saturday's Pinoy Pride X.
Photos by Dong Secuya.
OPBF Flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes (29W-6L-2D, 17 KO's) of Cebu City will fight former WBC Silver lt.flywieght champion Lookdiaw Tor Buamas of Thailand in an eight round non-title bout. Fuentes is ranked by the major boxing organizations and is also nearing a shot. Bumas bared that his real record is 22W-4 l, 8 KO's, not just the nine bouts recorded in boxrec.
?Rocky needs to be in a good position for a shot at the world title and become a mandatory challenger,? Aldeguer said, ?He needs to keep busy and learn from his mistakes.?
In a fight that could steal the show from the main event, Philippine lt.welterweight champion Romeo Jakosalem will face South Korean lt.welterweight champion Pan Soo Kim (11W-2L-1D, 7 KO's) for the vacant OPBF Light welterweight crown. Jakosalem (15W-4L-1D, 8 KO's) has had a terrific year, beating ertshwhile undefeated Canadian prospect Steve Claggett (TKO 8) and winning the Philippine title against Eusebio Baluarte (TKO 1). A rematch against Claggett is a possibility next year.
There are five more bouts scheduled : Roma Rate vs Randy Gomez (6 rounds), Mark Acub vs Ryan Maano (6 rounds), Mark Vincent Bernaldez vs Ruben Baldoz (4 rounds), Ralph Lulu vs Rodel Wenceslao (6 rounds) and Arjan Canillas vs Johnjier Torbiso (4 rounds).
Official weigh-in of the boxers will be at the Pacific Mall in Mandaue City Friday 11 AM.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
HALL OF FAMER MANNY PACQUIAO SET TO CHASE HISTORY YET AGAIN THIS SATURDAY NIGHT IN WORLD TITLE FIGHT AGAINST MARIO BARRIOS
Wed, 16 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: New York, a Special Place for Boxing
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua talking for a possible fight?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Philippines Rolls Past Pacific Oceania in Davis Cup Group IV Opener as Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors Set the Pace
Wed, 16 Jul 2025QUOTES FROM TONY HARRISON’S OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT TODAY IN DETROIT
Wed, 16 Jul 20253-Time World Champion Miyo Yoshida is tired of playing Boxing’s dreaded waiting game
Wed, 16 Jul 2025RP Blu Girls Dominate India to Strengthen Asia Cup Campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Pacquiao-Barrios Betting Odds in Las Vegas: Where Are Bettors Placing Their Money?
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Because Comebacks Matter: Pacquiao Fights for Us All
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Wed, 16 Jul 2025FILIPINO OLYMPIAN EUMIR MARCIAL, HARD-HITTING CONTENDER OMAR SALCIDO & MORE ROUND OUT LOADED EVENT THIS SATURDAY, JULY 19 AT THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS
Wed, 16 Jul 2025Dumam-ag fights in Japan on July 20
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 16 Jul 2025UNDEFEATED KO ARTISTS COLLIDE! ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI SET TO FACE ALBEIRO PAREDES
Wed, 16 Jul 2025Arca to compete in 9th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championships 2025 in Zhuhai, China
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Sampson Boxing Announces Signing of Super Lightweight Prospect Jorge De Jesus to Promotional Contract
Wed, 16 Jul 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 14 JULY 2025: Katie Taylor Makes 3-0 Over Amanda Serrano; Baumgardner Defeats Miranda; Stevenson Outclasses Zepeda; Sheeraz Stops Berlanga
By Eric Armit, Tue, 15 Jul 2025