Monday, May 14, 2007 Boom-boom is elite fighter: Bible of Boxing
BOHOLANO sensation Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista has now started his ascend to the top of the boxing world following his overwhelming victory over Sergio Medina last Sunday.
Bautista has broke into the ratings of the elite fighters rated by Ring Magazine, the “Bible of Boxing” after its chief editor Nigel Collins, who was at the ringside during “The World Awaits” card at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, was convinced that the Filipino rising superstar earned his keeps to be included in the prestigious fight journal.
On the other hand, ALA Boys manager Michael Aldeguer said, “Bautista has shown to the world that he is not just all power that in a very young age he can be big in his game.”
Ascending
Bautista (23-0, 18KOs) now occupies the rank Medina (28-1, 16KOs) formerly occupied—No.6 of all the super-bantamweights of the world. Medina slipped to No.7.
The Super-bantamweight division rated the WBC champion Rafael Marquez of Mexico (37-3, 32KOs) at the People’s champion. Marquez is also ranked No.3 pound-for-pound fighter of the world.
Ranked No.1 is the WBA 122lb champion Celestino Caballero of Panama (25-2, 18KOs) followed by the former IBF champion Israel Vasquez of Mexico (41-3, 30KOs), Ricardo Cordoba of Panama (29-1-2, 19KOs), Somsak Sitchatchawal of Thailand (49-2-1, 40KOs), WBO champion Daniel Ponce De Leon of Mexico (31-1-1, 28KOs).
Next in line
Following Bautista and Medina are Cabula Vabaza of South Africa (23-0-1, 5KOs), IBF champion Steve Molitor of Canada (23-0, 9KOs) and Takalani Ndlovu of South Africa (27-3, 17KOs) rounded the top 10 fighters.
“This is another breakthrough for Bautista. I am sure that he is going to go up the ladder and will become one of the great fighters to come out from the Philippines,” added Aldeguer.
Bautista’s next challenge is to beat De Leon for the WBO title, which is going to be the main event of the World Cup Boxing scheduled in early September. (RCM)
