The Burden of Being Boom Boom
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 09 Aug 2006
For the past couple of years Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista has been carrying the load of being tagged as Philippine boxing’s next big thing. There has never been a Filipino contender who managed to capture the fans’ imagination and the attention and expectations of the local press at such a relatively early stage of his career.
Bautista still has to win a legitimate crown. But, it seems most Filipino fans and sportswriters already see a world title belt strapped around his waist every time they see him. The twenty-year old from Candijay, Bohol has officially relinquished his WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title to campaign in the heavier superbantamweight division. His growing up process and career moves continue to be focused under the national spotlight.
Cebu Promoter Sammy Gello-ani was interviewed Tuesday afternoon on NBN 4’s news program “TELEDYARYO SPORTS” and he announced that Bautista’s next opponent is Giovanni Andrade of Brazil. The 36 year old Bahia native whose ring moniker is “Bombardeio” is a 60 fight veteran ( W 51 (42 ko's) | L 9) who once lost by 2nd round TKO to Johnny Tapia 10 years ago. He is a former Brazilian Superflyweight title holder. He does have the edge in experience but has not had much luck fighting for fringe belts like the IBO and IBC. In his last fight held in June he beat Cristobao Borges by second round KO. Bautista will be facing Andrade on the undercard of the Barrera-Juarez rematch this September 16.
Future potential match-ups are both explosive and dangerous. There is the WBO 122 lb. titlist Daniel Ponce de Leon (28 W (26 ko's) 1 L) who gained notoriety by disposing of Thai challenger Sod Looknongyangtoy with one punch in only 52 seconds last month. The southpaw De Leon was also seen on Solar Sports fighting in the undercard of Gonzales – Montiel fight card. He knocked out Gerson Guerrero in the second round. A flurry of punches sent Guerrero flat on his back with blood streaming from his mouth.
The world’s top bantamweight Rafael Marquez also plans to invade the superbantamweight ranks. The Mexican is ranked among the world’s best pound per pound fighters and is the most dangerous opponent in Bautista’s future.
Fighting in the age of the world wide web has made Bautista the subject of various internet forums. There are fans demanding that he take a step up in his level of competition. His handlers have been taking a more cautious approach and refuse to be caught up in the hype surrounding their boxer. The good news is that he has shown continuing improvement under trainer Freddie Roach. The master certainly caught Bautista at the right time, when the young ALA gym prodigy is still malleable and open to corrections. Rey has also shown the ability to get off the canvas and win a fight when he faced Gerado Espinoza last December.
Boom Boom has done his part and has kept on winning. He has continued to thrive under the microscope while an entire country anxiously follows his every move.
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