Thursday, November 01, 2007 Bautista spars with bigger fighters in Payback preparation
IN his effort to make a huge impact in his return to the ring, Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista has intensified his training for his Dec. 2 fight against Mexican puncher Antonio “Barrio” Meza at the Araneta Coliseum.
Bautista had six rounds of sparring yesterday against bigger partners who outweighed him by at least eight pounds.
The 21-year-old Boholano phenom sparred four rounds with 140-pounder Glen Masicampo then had another two rounds with 130-pounder Leon Maratas to complete a total of 22 rounds of sparring.
ALA Gym chief trainer Edito Villamor wants Bautista to have at least 120 rounds of sparring before they wind up their training for the 12-round WBO Inter-continental super bantamweight championship fight against Meza.
The card, which will be the pilot promotion of a new player Third Force, is dubbed “Payback,” and is aptly named as Bautista wants to prove that his defeat to Daniel Ponce De Leon last Aug. 11 was a result of his immaturity on the ring.
Meza, 25, is a worthy opponent and the fighter from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico carries a respectable 23-2, 16 KOs ring record and has the WBC Fecarbox, WBC Latino and the Mexican super-bantamweight titles to boast.
Aside from sparring, Bautista (23-1, 17 KOs), is also developing his defense and how to set up an opponent. (RCM)
