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Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Sonic Boom-Boom
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Just when he was peaking in training, Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista contracted the flu and he was taken to the hospital.
Past 9 p.m. Sunday, the WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion was rushed by his manager Antonio L. Aldeguer (ALA) to the Cebu Doctors Hospital because of a relapse of fever and coughs he suffered the other week.
Bautista was to fight Mexican Felix Alejandro Montiel on July 2 in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios fight in Araneta Coliseum but it would now be very difficult for Bautista to make the match.
Scared
“We were scared because Boom-Boom nearly fainted because of high fever and heavy coughing. That is why we rushed him to the hospital,” Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday. “Luckily, after he was given medicine, his fever subsided and his cough mellowed. But I doubt that his body could recover in time to make the fight.”
Aldeguer said that after Bautista was downed by the flu last June 18, they had to double time in getting him back in shape.
“Since his illness last week, we gave him gradual sparring sessions but his training regimen was heavy. I believe his body has not recovered yet when he went back into deep training, that’s why he had a relapse,” said Aldeguer.
Doctor
Bautista was attended by Dr. Gary Rivera, the same physician who operated on Dindo Castañares on 2002 for a broken jaw. Rivera is a cousin of veteran boxing journalist Hermie Rivera, who once handled the careers of former world boxing champions Luisito Espinosa and Morris East.
With very little time left, Bautista will find it almost impossible to fight on July 2 since his body is still weak and he needs to shed extra poundage to make the 122-pound limit as stated in the fight contract.
“Last week he was peaking, this week Boom-Boom was scheduled to trim those extra pounds. But he could not since he needed to sweat it out,” Aldeguer said. “Well, first I have to talk to the doctor if he is fit to fight, then with his trainer Edito
Villamor and Boom-Boom himself. I could not make a decision, because it was his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, which booked this fight. Eric Gomez will arrive on Wednesday. We will talk about it.”
Matchmaker Rex “Wakee” Salud is waiting for the final word from Bautista’s camp.
“If Bautista could not make it, I have a replacement. Hopefully, he will be fit to fight because he is the main attraction next to Manny Pacquiao,” Salud said.
Dream
“It is the dream of Sir ALA to have me fight at the Araneta Coliseum in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s fight. When all is within reach, my body failed to cooperate. I don’t want to ruin his (Aldeguer’s) reputation and my fans. This is painful but I have to admit, I am not ready and this fight is not really meant for me,” said Bautista in his hospital bed.
Team Bautista was supposed to leave for Manila yesterday for the public viewing of the fight protagonists.
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‘Predator’ vows to submit ‘Enforcer’ in MMA match-up
It's going to be a dogfight as Engie “The Enforcer” Piloto takes on Pablo “Predator” Santillan in a mixed-martial-arts Superfight in the 132-pound division of the “Ground and Pound” MMA and kickboxing tournament on July 8 at the Cebu Coliseum.
Santillan, of Durex Dragon Kickboxing Club of Lapu-Lapu, promised a submission victory over Yaw-Yan Ardigma’s Piloto in their three-round fight.
“That’s what Santillan said and I think Santillan is serious about it,” said tournament organizer Benigno “Sir Ekin” Caniga Jr.
However, Piloto said he doesn’t mind what Santillan is saying as he continues his daily physical conditioning at the Yaw-Yan Ardigma Gym.
“I am tuning up my body all the time and maybe next Monday I’ll rest for mental conditioning. Let us see if he can submit me,” said Santillan, a police officer.
Another potentially thrilling fight is that of Adamson “The Assassin” Torbiso, Santillan’s gym mate, and Vicente “Badong” Valdueza Jr. of Yaw-Yan Pasay City Team in the 135lb kickboxing event.
Torbiso wants to match skills with of an out-of-town opponent as an exposure for future campaigns.
Top draws
The other top draws are Cary “The Prince” Bullos of Yaw-Yan Musang Lapu-Lapu taking on Jun “The Striker” Fernandez of Western Kickboxing Club of Talisay in the MMA open-weight category and James “King Solomon” Garcia of Yaw-Yan Pasay against Mercito Gesta of Cmac Kickboxing Club of Mandaue in the 134lb division.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 27, 2006 issue)
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