BAUTISTA FACES TOUGH OPPONENT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 28 Jul 2006
WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista faces a tough Moises "Matador" Gutierrez, the super bantamweight champion of Chile on the undercard of the September `16 rematch between WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera and young Rocky Juarez in Las Vegas.
Bautista who was bitterly disappointed when he was downed by a virus and unable to battle Mexico's Alejandro Felix Montiel in the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios "Mano-A-Mano" showdown at the Araneta Coliseum last July 2 has been training hard for his re-appearance in the ring in Las Vegas.
Bautista showed no ill-effects of his brief layoff during a three-round exhibition against veteran Edwin Gastador in the "Battle of the Undefeated" blockbuster fight card that was one of the highlights of the Sandugo Festival in Tagbilaran City.
Ranked No.1 in the world by the WBO and No. 7 by the WBC Bautista is expected to face his toughest test against Gutierrez, the 27 year old Chilean with an impressive record of 15-3 with 6 knockouts. Gutierrez is coming off a six round unanimous decision over Diego Herminio Alejandro Sananco last July 7 after dropping a ten round unanimous decision to undefeated IBF No. 3 Gabula Vabaza of South Africa last March 31 in Johannesburg.
Prior to that Gutierrez scored a third round TKO over Miguel Alejandro Perez. He won the vacant Chilean super bantamweight title with an eighth round TKO over Juan Nahuel when the corner of Nahuel said their fighter had taken enough of a beating.
Respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer who manages Bautista and a roster of exciting prospects said he was having a hard time finding sparring partners for Bautista and would send him to the Wild Card Gym of trainer Freddie Roach along with top Filipino trainer Edito "Ala" Villamor on August 10.
Aldeguer said undefeated prospect AJ Banal had been invited by Golden Boy Promotions and would accompany Bautista to also train at the Wild Card Gym and carry the Philippine flag into the ring when Bautista fights.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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