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Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Bautista wins despite getting knocked down
By Homer D. Sayson of Sun.Star Cebu
SAN DIEGO – Unbeaten in 18 bouts with 14 kayoes, the career of Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista has produced more highlights than a Hollywood flick. But his show-stopping Dec. 23 conquest of a seasoned opponent was the Candijay, Bohol native’s best production yet.
It wasn’t easy, though.
At the 2:17 mark of a relatively active second round, Bautista got careless and was caught by a vicious two-punch combination. One of those rockets, a wicked left hook, hit Bautista flush in the jaw and sent the Boholano laying in the canvas like a lump of limp clay.
Shaken
Bautista was visibly shaken from his first-ever knockdown. His jelly legs held him upright somehow, but his fierce black eyes had that look of shock into them, gazing emptily at the referee who asked him if he was ready to continue.
Gerardo Espinoza, a deadly puncher with 26 KOs in 28 wins, went for the kill.
But Bautista, 18, wouldn’t oblige. Using his 69-inch reach, Boom-Boom created some distance between him and total disaster, and every time the Mexican got too close, Boom-Boom wisely clung for his life.
Putting the traumatic second round behind him, Bautista went right back to work in the third.
Jabs
His legs were still a little rubbery, but his punches had regained some of its boom, pelting Espinoza’s face with a steady stream of jabs and nailing him with a jarring left hook, which sent the Mexican’s mouthpiece flying through the front row seats of Sycuan Resort and Casino’s Showcase Theater.
Just as Bautista was about to seize complete control of the bout, Espinoza came roaring back, bulldozing his broad shoulders past the lean Bautista. A veteran of three world-title fights, Espinoza used experience to his advantage, counter-punching effectively and keeping Bautista off-balance with timely hits.
After a lackadaisical round four though, Rey jingled the rest of the way.
Round five saw Espinoza’s face starting to resemble a car wreck. An ugly welt had formed under his right cheekbone, while his left eye turned puffy. Bautista continued his onslaught, unleashing brutal body blows and spearing the retreating Espinoza with laser jabs and pointed rights.
Round six was the fight’s ultimate turning point. Under the welter of Bautista’s unrelenting assault, Espinoza, bleeding now from the nose, slowly began to crack. He pedaled more forcefully backwards, and he began to grimace long before Bautista’s blows found the mark.
Fresh
Round seven was a complete shutout. In superb physical shape, Bautista answered the bell as though the fight had just started. He was fresh, confident and eager for a spectacular finish. His punches were crisp, short, decisive, precise and just plain brutal.
When the eighth and final round came, it was clear that Espinoza was only interested in finishing the fight on his feet. He ran and hugged and clinched. Still, Rey almost scored a knockdown with a late flurry, but Espinoza had the survival skills of a US marine.
All three judges gave Bautista the nod (76-75, 76-75, 77-74) keeping Boom-Boom’s slate immaculate at 19 with 14 KOs.
So what happened in the second round?
Sitting in a locker room stall minutes after the fight, Bautista talked exclusively to this reporter and said: “Nangajawat man gud ko nga maka-igo sa akong left hook, pero taas man siya mao na nga una naabot iyahag kumo.” (I was anxious to hit him with my left hook, but because he was taller than me, I got hit first.)
Freddie Roach, who manned Bautista’s corner alongside Edito”Ala” Villamor, also spoke to Sun.Star Cebu. “He got too anxious. He got caught by a really good punch from a veteran fighter. We will have Rey look at the video and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
What does the future hold for Bautista?
Two possibilities
ALA stable owner Antonio Aldeguer said he and Micael Koncz, Bautista’s US agent and business manager, are looking at two possibilities for the Boholano’s next assignment.
“Boom-Boom might have another test in Chicago, or he could fight in the undercard of Brian Viloria’s title defense in Las Vegas.”
Wherever that fight will be, pencil Bautista as ready.
Yes, he is no longer a virgin when it comes to not having kissed the canvas. But with Espinoza’s near-knockout shocker, Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista is better with the experience.
(December 27, 2005 issue)
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