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Thursday, January 13, 2005
South African vows to defeat Bautista
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE South African Vuyisele Bebe may bring out the best in teenage sensation Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista who will defend his WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title on Jan. 29 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
The nine-year veteran “The Killer McCoy” of South Africa is a born fighter with toughness and power packed inside his stocky frame.
Bebe is also a former South African junior flyweight champ who holds a 15-5 win-loss record packed with six knockout wins.
The experienced African, who has never been knocked out, doesn’t have any respect for the 18-year-old Bautista.
“No way can a youngster knock me out when 20 others have failed,” said Bebe.
Bebe even promised to give Bautista his first loss.
Turning pro at age 19, Bebe made his pro debut on Sept. 21, 1996 with a unanimous-decision win over fellow African Moses Mhlinzi, and racked up five more wins before Ayanda Ramnowane handed him his first defeat.
On Oct. 29, 2000 Bebe earned his moniker when he stopped defending champion Ndoda Mayende to win the African title after losing in their first titular collision a few months back.
But Bebe lost the South African 108-pound title in his first defense against Mhikiza Myekeni due to weight problems, and moved up to the bantamweight division (118lb), where he earned merits for a shot against the Candijay, Bohol-native Bautista.
“This (fight) will gauge whether Bautista is ready for big fights. This is a tough fight, and the result can go either way since Vuyisele is dangerous. I’ve seen him fight and he is really good,” said promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
With a classic match looming, ticket demand has risen threefold, something never seen since the days of Edito “ALA” Villamor.
Tickets, now available at USA Sports boutiques in SM and Ayala and the Mandaue Cultural and Sports Complex are P700 for VIP, P350 for ringside, P250 for lower seats and P150 for general admission.
For inquiries, call Clarice or Leilani at (032) 346-3489, 0917-6211014 or 0917-3253005.
(January 13, 2005 issue)
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