BREAKING NEWS: BAUTISTA BATTLES FEIDER VILORIA FEB. 24!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Jan 2007
CEBU CITY--In a press conference held a few minutes ago, top Filipino promoter Sammy 'Don King' Gello-ani announced that undefeated Filipino boxing sensation Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista will face his toughest test on February 24 when he dukes it out with young Colombian Feider Viloria in a 12-round battle for the WBO Intercontinental and WBO Youth titles.
Bautista versus Viloria will be the co-feature to the huge 'Moment of Truth' card at the Cebu City Sports Complex being put up by Golden Boy Promotions, ALA Boxing Gym and Gello-ani's SGG Sports Promotions.
SGG's Sammy Gello-ani (left) and ALA boxing manager Michael Aldeguer announce to the media Bautista's latest opponent during today's press conference. Photo by Dong Secuya.
The 23-year-old Viloria will provide the kind of test that fans have been clamoring to get for the hugely-popular Bautista.
The Antioquia, Colombia native holds a menacing record of 18 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw with 12 KO's, and holds the WBC Latino superbantamweight title.
Viloria is currently ranked WBC no. 14, WBO no. 14 and WBA no. 12 among the superbantamweights.
Top international matchmaker Sampson 'Picasso' Lewkowicz and GBP vice-president Eric Gomez were responsible in getting the tough opponent for Bautista, as well as the opponents for Alex John Banal and Jimrex Jaca, who will be seeing action on the undercard for regional titles.
Also present at today's press conference, which attracted a good number of mediamen, were Cebu sportsman Antonio L. Aldeguer and son Michael, who manages the ALA fighters.
If victorious against Viloria, the Candijay, Bohol-raised Bautista will then moved into a WBO eliminator for the superbantam title against the undefeated Argentinian Sergio Medina on May 5 underneath the Oscar De la Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr super showdown.
Medina is unblemished with 28 wins and 16 KO's.
The slambang February 24 card is presented in cooperation with the City Government of Cebu as it falls on the city's Charter Day Anniversary.
Renowned trainer Freddie Roach will arrive in the country on February 17 to call the shots for Gorres and Bautista in the corner along with Filipino trainer Edito Villamor.
Sampson Lewkowicz hits town on February 22, and will be bringing with him the official Cup which will be awarded to the winning country after the World Cup set in the Philippines sometime end of July or early August.
Team Montiel, a party of five people, is set to arrive a week before the fight, while Team Viloria, party of three, planes in also at about the same time.
More to come...
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