HIS hard-earned victory over Argentinean Sergio Manuel Medina set up Boholano sensation Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista for a tougher battle—against WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico.
The fight, longed for by many Filipino boxing fans, could be Bautista’s entry to superstardom.
“Yes that would be the toughest battle for Boom-Boom in years but we Boholanos believe in him. We believe that he could be the next boxing superstar and we will be with him through thick and thin,” said Tagbilaran City Mayor and ALA Gym legal adviser Dan Neri Lim in an interview yesterday.
“Ponce de Leon is a true champion. A champion with brute and (boxing) intelligence and if Bautista conquers him, then there is no doubt he could be the next boxing superstar of the country,” Lim said.
And who doesn’t know Ponce de Leon?
He was the pony-tailed Mexican champion who managed to score a questionable unanimous decision over the smaller Gerry Peñalosa last March 19.
Before the fight, de Leon boasted the Filipino challenger would not last the distance.
However, instead of falling down, Peñalosa unveiled many chinks on de Leon’s armor.
Though Bautista is not as savvy as Peñalosa, he possesses qualities Peñalosa doesn’t have. Still, de Leon can easily beat the 20-year-old Boholano if Bautista chooses to be an open target.
Patient
“That would be a very tough fight. Boom-Boom needs to train hard, adjust his game plan and put more premium on his defense. He needs to be patient, to never be cocky against a champion,” Lim said.
The de Leon-Bautista fight will be the main event of the World Cup of Boxing, which will feature fighters from Mexico and Philippines.
The World Cup will also showcase three more world championship fights, and the winning country will get to keep the golden world cup, encrusted with 125 pieces of assorted precious stones that is worth $500,000. The Cup is now deposited at the Union Bank in Cebu City. (RCM)
