BAUTISTA BATTERS ANDRADE, SCORES 4TH ROUND TKO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 Dec 2006
Emerging ring sensation Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista battered Brazilian super bantamweight champion Giovanni Andrade like a powerful hurricane racing across the Florida ring, forcing the veteran to surrender on his stool and not come out for the fourth round in a scheduled ten round bout at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
Bautista who was introduced by Oscar De La Hoya at the pre-fight news conference as the Philippines next Manny Pacquiao lived up to the expectations not only of De La Hoya but more so of his patron, the respected Tony Aldeguer whose care and concern for his fighters border on the legendary. Intently watching the action along with De La Hoya were boxing greats and Golden Boy Promotions partners Bernard Hopkins and Sugar Shane Mosley.
The smashing victory which goes down as a fourth round TKO improved the undefeated 20 year old Bautista?s record to 21-0 with 16 knockouts while Andrade dropped to 52-10 with 43 KO?s. Bautista who was eager to get into the ring after a virus infection and a freak accident while shadow boxing at Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Gym caused a hairline fracture of his collarbone which cost him two big fights, showed no ill-effects from the lay off as he pounded the 36 year old Andrade with
vicious body shots that sapped the energy out of the Brazilian.
In a post fight interview Andrade who enjoyed a height and reach advantage said ?he hit me with too many body shots and every time they landed I felt like I was stabbed.? Referee Jorge Alonzo said the corner advised him that Andrade ?could no longer continue? and he stopped the bout at 0:01 second of the fourth round. Respected TV boxing commentator Dave Bontempo said ?he (Andrade) is wincing like those body shots did a number and maybe his ribs are bothering him.? Bontempo added that Andrade?s ribs may have been damaged by the powerful body shots of Bautista who couldn?t contain his joy as he walked around the ring with the Philippine flag draped around his shoulder.
The excited Bautista shouted greetings to his parents and the people of Bohol and was congratulated by a beaming De La Hoya, Hopkins and Mosley and key executives of Golden Boy, Eric Gomez and Sampson Lewkowicz in the ring.
In a brief overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Bautista conceded that Andrade was tough and hit fairly hard but that his (Bautista?s) body shots were too much for Andrade to handle. Bautista said De La Hoya told him ?you have improved a lot.?
Bautista who trained rigorously at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach assisted by outstanding Filipino trainer and former world minimum weight title challenger Edito ?Ala? Villamor kept his composure against the showboating Andrade who was cautioned by the referee for taunting Bautista. In the second round Andrade charged forward catching Bautista on the ropes with a flurry of punches but the youngster slipped out of trouble and caught Andrade with a solid left hook. However, he was cautioned for a low blow and at the break the referee told Bautista ?you got to bring them up, alright.?
Andrade pretended to be unperturbed by the blows of the disciplined Bautista who nailed him with a cracking three punch combination beginning with a left hook and ending with a left hook to the body which clearly hurt the Brazilian champion.
After another perfect left hook Bautista ended the round by driving Andrade back and rocking him with another excellent combination.
Bautista said his trainers have been instilling him in the discipline to keep off the ropes and to work on his defense and his footwork as well as to try not to keep too wide a stance. A quick learner Bautista was introduced at the pre-fight press conference by the great Oscar De La Hoya as the next Manny Pacquiao although Bautista himself does not like to be compared to Pacquiao saying there is only one Manny Pacquiao.
Bautista?s last ring appearance was on May 20 when he destroyed Roberto Bonilla in three rounds while Andrade is coming off an August 24 clash with Sixto Vera Espinola who was decked twice in the second and twice in the fourth round before
calling it quits in the fourth round in a World Boxing Commission title fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Press Conference Notes: San Diego Favorite Emanuel Navarrete Set to Reignite Mexico-Philippines Rivalry against Charly Suarez
Fri, 09 May 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLARESSA SHIELDS vs. LANI DANIELS SATURDAY, JULY 26 * LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
Fri, 09 May 2025Unbeaten Anthony Velazquez pitched shutout at home in Springfield
Fri, 09 May 2025TYSON FURY VOTED THE MOST ENTERTAINING BOXER IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO BRITISH FANS
Fri, 09 May 2025Undefeated super middleweight contender Darius Fulghum preparing to ‘Make a big splash’ vs. Bek Melikuziev
Fri, 09 May 2025OKC Routs Denver; 149-106, Ties Series; Semis Series in East Remain Topsy-turvy as Boston Goes Down 0-2 With 91-90 Loss to NY
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 08 May 2025SHAW SENDS A MESSAGE IN HUNT FOR UK OPEN GLORY | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Thu, 08 May 2025WBO presents the Amanda Serrano Championships
Thu, 08 May 2025GM Antonio faces tough competition in ASEAN Seniors Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 08 May 2025Boxing: Entertainment Sport or Sport Entertainment?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 07 May 2025JIM LAMPLEY'S BOOK TOUR IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK!
Wed, 07 May 2025CAPITO IGNITES TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Wed, 07 May 2025Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 06 May 2025Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN
Tue, 06 May 2025The Past Week in Action 5 May 2025: Inoue-Cardenas Saves Historic Boxing Weekend; Canelo-Scull Sets New Record for Fewest Punches Thrown
By Eric Armit, Tue, 06 May 2025