Boom-Boom all set to defend title vs Mexican in Davao City

THE date is set. The venue is ready. All eyes will be on Davao City as Filipino Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista puts his WBO International featherweight belt on the line against Mexican knockout artist Jose "Negro" Ramirez in the main event of the Pinoy Pride XIX on April 20 at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Gymnasium and Cultural Center.

Bautista, who holds a 34-win (including 25 knockouts), zero-draw and two-loss card, said he has long prepared for the fight. He had been training for a supposed December fight last year that did not materialize.
"Dako akong pasalamat ug kalipay nga mahitabo na, diri pa sa Dabaw kon asa nakapuyo akong Papa diri ug lima ka tuig. Gipangandaman ko ning fight pero sa ngalan nga Mehikano akong kontra, dili gihapon makumpyansahan (I'm thankful and happy that at last I'm going to fight again here in Davao City where my father had lived for five years. I'm ready for this fight but knowing that I'll be against a Mexican, I can't be complacent),"Bautista said during an event launch press conference at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.

The Bohol native, ranked fourth in IBF World featherweight division, was even bold to predict a knockout during the main showdown considering that Ramirez, who totes a 24-win (15 KOs), 0-draw and 3-loss record, had won five of his fights via KO in the first round. Eleven of Ramirez's KO wins did not last four rounds.

Bautista said, "Naay matumba aning laban namo ni Ramirez. Basta ako maningkamot ko nga makasulod ko ug maunhan nako siya. Dako ang maging suporta sa mga Davao ug Mindanao fans nako pero sa sulod sa ring kami ramang duha. Mulaban ko sa tanang kusog nako (Somebody will fall in this fight. As for me, I'll do my best to get in and hit him first. Davao and Mindanao fans will be a great support to me but inside the right it's just between Ramirez and me so I will have to fight him with all I've got)."

He also assured boxing fans one good entertainment and that they will get their money's worth when they watch the spectacle dubbed as "Mexican Invasion".

Coach Edito Villamor, for his part, is confident about Bautista's title-retention bid saying in the vernacular, "He is in good shape. We are just improving on his jabs and his footwork for this fight. This is going to be one good show that boxing fans must not miss."

First in Mindanao

Pinoy Pride XIX, to be held in Davao City, is the first of the series to be staged in Mindanao.

Michael P. Aldeguer of the ALA Promotions said they are excited to bring in world-class boxing fights in this part of the country.

"The Pinoy Pride series had posted high TV ratings in Mindanao. We just want to give back to Mindanaoans the support they've been giving us all these time by putting up the April 20 event here," Aldeguer said.

He said holding a Pinoy Pride event in Davao or Mindanao had been a part of their long-term plans ever since.

He said the Bautista-Ramirez clash will be a "tough fight" and that boxing fans all over the world will get to see it through the TFC (The Filipino Channel) of ABS-CBN that is co-presenting Pinoy Pride XIX "Mexican Invasion".

Aldeguer is also confident that Bautista will keep his belt, citing the latter's dedication to bounce back from all the injuries he survived in his entire boxing career.

"Boom-Boom is very hard working. He had proven his critics, who thought he was going downhill, wrong time and time again. He is in his best condition for this title defense," Aldeguer added.

Exciting undercard

Aside from the main event, fans will have a rare treat as Rocky "The Road Warrior" Fuentes of the Philippines climbs the ring against Juan "Loquito" Kantun of Mexico in 112 lbs. category.

The reigning OPBF flyweight champion Fuentes, who posts a 34 wins (20 KOs), two-draw and six-loss card, will battle Kantun who registered 20 wins (15 KOs), three draws and three losses so far in his pro career.
Also pitted are King Arthur "El Matador" Villanueva of ALA Gym against Marco Demecillo of Wakee Salud Stable for the OPBF Super Flyweight Championship and Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva of the Philippines against Arief "The Ice" Blader of Indonesia.

Arthur Villanueva (20-0-0, 11 KOs) is undefeated in 19 fights and knocked out nine straight opponents in his 2009-2011 fights while reigning Philippine super flyweight champion Demecillo (18-1-0, 14 KOs) had knocked out his opponents in his last six fights.

Former WBO Oriental featherweight champion Lorenzo Villanueva (23-0-1, 21 KOs), meanwhile, is expected to get his hands full opposite Blader (17-1-9), a former Indonesia Boxing Association super bantamweight champion.

Ticket prices

Tickets are available at SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier Cinemas. Tickets are pegged at P3,000 VIP first row, P2,000 second row, P1,500 third row and P1,000 fourth row (reserved and limited seats); P500 courtside and P150 general admission (free seating).

For ticket inquiries, contact (032) 505-9513, (0923) 107-2890, (0915) 869-0905, (0927) 561-2059 or visit

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