BAUTISTA IN WBO TITLE ELIMINATOR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Feb 2007
Emerging ring sensation, undefeated super bantamweight Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista who is ranked No.1 by the WBO faces the toughest battle of his young ring career when he takes on No. 2 contender Sergio Manuel ?Rocky? Medina of Argentina in a title eliminator on the undercard of the May 5 showdown between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather.
Youthful Michael Aldeguer who has assumed the challenge of managing the fighters of his respected father Tony Aldeguer of the famed ALA Gym informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that the ?plans were finalized? while Golden Boy Promotions vice president Eric Gomez was speaking by overseas telephone to De La Hoya himself and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, Monday morning.
Sergio Manuel Medina (right) poses with Dario Azuaga during the weighin of their fight.
The battle between Bautista and Medina who is also undefeated will be one of three bouts to be shown worldwide, proving how highly Golden Boy thinks of Bautista. In another big break for a Filipino boxer, hard-hitting 17 year old prot?g? AJ Banal will also be featured on the blockbuster fight card just before the top three bouts. Aldeguer said that Bautista ?may yet have a chance of being the main supporting bout? to the De La Hoya-Mayweather main event.
Bautista who sports an impressive 22-0, 17 KO record is coming off a third round demolition of Mexican Marino Montiel Gonzalez on the ?Moment of Truth? card at the Cebu City Sports Complex last Saturday. The 20 year old Bautista dropped Gonzalez with a vicious body shot in the opening round before putting him away for good with a similar shot to the body at 1:03 of the third.
Medina who is 25 is managed by Mario Arano who reportedly inked an agreement earlier with Golden Boy?s international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz to fight Bautista. Medina won the Fedelatin super bantamweight title with a fifth round TKO of Juan Jose Herrera after decking Herrera in the second and fourth rounds on March 11, 2005. Medina is one of Argentina?s most promising fighters and has been described as ?well schooled.?
One of Medina's victims was Dario Azuaga who dropped a ten round decision to Gerry Penalosa in 2005 but lost by a third round TKO to Medina who put on an impressive performance. Azuaga received two standing eight counts in the first round and was dropped in the second and third rounds.
Well known boxing writer Marty Mulcahey says that Bautista ?might well have the fastest hands in the division and puts combinations together well when comfortable.? Mulcahey noted that Bautista ?showed good maturity and patience in coming back from an early knockdown against Gerardo Espinoza to outbox his foe in a short eight round bout.? Mulcahey said celebrated trainer Freddie Roach indicated Bautista will get a title shot this year and the title eliminator is a clear indication of that possibility.
The reigning champion is hard-hitting Daniel Ponce De Leon who defends his crown against former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa of the Philippines on March 17 on the undercard of the WBC super featherweight title clash between Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez. Penalosa who moved up to divisions to grab the title shot against all advice said he was confident he made the right decision and could beat Ponce De Leon despite the fact that he is bigger and stronger.
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