Wednesday, August 15, 2007 Pacquaio says ‘Boom Boom’ must improve on defense By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
FILIPINO boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao said Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista must improve on his defense if the latter wants to bounce back from his heartbreaking first round knockout defeat to Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico last Saturday in Sacramento, California.
Pacquiao, in a television interview, said Bautista must use head movements to prevent big punchers like Ponce de Leon from hitting him.
Pacquiao, who was in Manila Monday to train briefly in the country, said Bautista would be hard to stop once he develops his defense.
The 21-year-old Bautista was an easy target when he fought Ponce de Leon, as he was more content trading bombs instead of playing defense to stay out of trouble.
Firing bomb after bomb and hitting his target at will, Ponce de Leon knocked out Bautista in the very first round to score Mexico's lone victory in the card dubbed Mexico vs Philippines Boxing World Cup.
Five other RP boxers led by the ageless Gerry Peñalosa won their respective bouts in a glorious night of boxing for the Filipino people, until Bautista climbed the ring and got waylaid by the rampaging Ponce de Leon.
It was Bautista's first world title fight and first loss--a devastating one--in his young career.
Aside from Peñalosa, winning for the Philippines were Diosdado Gabi, Michael Domingo, AJ Banal, and Z Gorres.
