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Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Bautista to fight in Pacquiao card
Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista pulled out from fighting in the main event of the James Grunsky Promotions and Stockton Ports card to fight in an eight-rounder undercard for a big time Top Rank promotion on Sept. 10.
The upcoming Boholano superstar will fight underneath some of the biggest names in boxing in the double-main event card featuring Erik Morales against Zahir Raheem and Manny Pacquiao versus Hector Velasquez at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
Cancelled
“I cancelled it (Grunsky-Ports promotion fight) because Top Rank will not allow it. I had to make a decision,” said Cebuano boxing patron and Bautista’s manager Antonio Aldeguer in a text message.
Bautista and his trainer Edito Villamor left Cebu for the US last Aug. 3 for his final preparations against Mexican Samuel Lopez, whom he would have faced at New York’s Stockton Ballpark on Aug. 19.
Before they left, however, American Michael Koncz said that Bautista could get a chance to fight in the Top Rank double-header.
“Bautista’s fight is confirmed on Sept. 10 for eight rounds. It will be in the undercard of the Pacquiao and Morales double-header in Los Angeles,” Aldeguer said.
Aldeguer said Top Rank’s Bob Arum initially paired the 19-year-old boxer against Mexican Gerardo “Locomotora” Espinoza.
Although Bautista’s management team still has to confirm Bautista’s opponent, it is wary of the 24-year-old fighter from Tijuana, who holds a record of 28 wins against eight loses with 26 KOs.
Dangerous
“It is yet to be confirmed but Gerardo Espinoza is the first name Bob Arum mentioned. Espinoza is a dangerous fighter with his exceptional record. I believe this will be another tough test for Boom-Boom,” said Aldeguer.
Espinoza hails from the same place where Morales grew up and started his boxing career. He is an orthodox fighter standing at 5-foot-9, two inches taller than the undefeated WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Baustista. (RCM)
(August 10, 2005 issue)
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