BAUTISTA’S OPPONENT CANNOT BE UNDERESTMATED
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 21 Feb 2007
Emerging ring sensation Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista’s new opponent lined up for his battle for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title cannot be underestimated.
Golden Boy Promotions international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz who convinced Murad Muhammad to sign up Manny Pacquiao after watching a tape of the WBC flyweight title fight against Chatchai Sasakul in December 1998 picked Marino Monntiel Gonzalez, nicknamed “Zaino” to replace Latino champion Feider Viloria after Viloria was not allowed to board a plane for Manila via Amsterdam from Bogota, Colombia because he didn’t have a transit visa.
Marino Montiel Gonzalez is a former light flyweight who now fights as a regular bantamweight and had a scheduled fight in Mexico before Lewkowicz was forced to pull him out for the battle against Bautista. The Mexican accepted the challenge readily because of the chance to break into the WBO rankings should be beat the No.1 ranked Bautista.
Gonzalez who fights under the name Marino Montiel has a record of 15 knockouts in 29 wins with 8 losses. The 25 year old is trained by Jose Marino Montiel Almada and is regarded as a typical, aggressive Mexican fighter. He stands 5’ 5 ?”.
Lewkowicz who is scheduled to arrive in Cebu along with the new opponent of Bautista in time for a big luncheon press conference at the Waterfront Hotel on Thursday disclosed that Marino Montiel Gonzalez who weighed 121 pounds when he signed the contract for the Bautista fight was “in good shape” since he was training for a fight in Mexico.
Leon Panoncillo, a top official of the WBO in the Asia-Pacific region told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he was "approving the Bautista-Marino Montiel Gonzalez fight as a title fight" with the vacant WBO Intercontinental title at stake.
The exciting fight card which will also feature the WBO super flyweight championship bout between mandatory challenger Z “The Dream” Gorres and champion Fernando Montiel will be telecast by the giant Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday over Channel 2 and, according to vice president for sports Peter Musgni will be carried “live” by The Filipino Channel TFC in some areas abroad and on a slightly delayed basis in others.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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