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Sunday, January 16, 2005
Bautista highly favored to win
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
BOXING pundits were united in predicting that WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista will emerge successful in his title defense against South African challenger Vuyisile Bebe on Jan. 29 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Promoter Sammy earlier asked for the opinion of noted boxing authorities on what could be an acid test for the Candijay, Bohol-native Bautista, who will defend his title for the first time.
Sportscaster and sports columnist Ronnie Natanielsz, IBC-13 newscaster and sportswriter/analyst Dennis Principe, boxing manager/promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud, trainer/manager of WBC featherweight champion In-Jin Chi Jin-Kil Kim, and SGG trainer Jeremiah Quijano and OPBF super-featherweight champion Randy Suico all think Bautista could pull this one off.
Toughest fight
“I think this will be Bautista’s toughest challenge because Bebe is a former champion. I was also informed by Branco Malenkovic, the South African promoter/manager, that Bebe is good, although no longer in his prime.
African boxers are fundamentally sound, so Bautista must fight intelligently. I have faith in Boom-Boom and I believe he is a world champion of the future,” Nathanielsz said.
“The power of Bautista is immeasurable and world-class. He is strong and I think he will knock out Bebe. African boxers are slippery and have good combinations of punches, but he can’t run away for 12 rounds. Boom-Boom will catch him sooner or later and knock him out. I’m confident Bautista will win. He is a world champion in the making,” said Salud.
Attack no retreat
“African boxers are good and hard. Always ready to fight. Attack and attack, no retreat. This will be a very exciting fight, but Bautista’s power will prevail.
He will win by KO if the African doesn’t run. The only danger for Bautista is getting cut or not decking the African. He can lose by decision, but I think Bautista is hard to beat: He is really good,” Kim said.
“I have high respect for African boxers because of their courage and durability. I fought African Mzonke Fana and thought I could knock him out, but he kept on fighting back and I ended up losing by decision. This will be a good fight. I’d like Boom-Boom to win but I can’t pick the winner,” said Suico.
“I saw Vuyisile Bebe fight when I was in South Africa accompanying Bert Batawang. He keeps throwing punches in all directions. Whoever lands the first solid punch will win by KO because Bautista and Bebe are both strong punchers,” Quijano said.
“This fight will separate Boom-Boom from the boys, and it will not only test his power but also his mental toughness now that he will fight a non-Asian, who has scary credentials,” Principe said.
(January 16, 2005 issue)
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