Thursday, August 16, 2007 Boom Boom: I'll be back By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
BOXING enthusiasts especially Filipino fight fans have not seen the last of Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista. Certainly not yet.
Bautista made this vow upon arrival in the country Wednesday from Los Angeles, saying he wants to continue fighting atop the ring in search for boxing glory despite his painful defeat to Daniel Ponce de Leon.
"Si Boom Boom Bautista as babalik sa ring (Boom Boom Bautista will be back in the ring)," the 21-year-old Bautista said moments after stepping down from the plane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Bautista, who is from Bohol, was with the triumphant Philippine boxing team members who wrested the World Cup from Mexico in an action-packed card Saturday in Sacramento, California.
The Filipinos won five of the six matches to capture the championship, with only Bautista ending up losing his bout via a heartbreaking first round KO at the hands of de Leon.
It was the first defeat tasted by Bautista in his young career.
Gerry Peñalosa capped the fruitful campaign of the Filipino boxers when he won over Johnny Gonzalez to snatch the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title.
Also winning their bouts were Z Gorres, AJ Banal, Diosdado Gabi, and Michael Domingo.
Gorres, Banal, and Domingo joined Bautista in the trip back home Wednesday, but Gabi and Peñalosa opted to stay behind for another day.
Bautista, likewise, apologized to the Filipino people for failing to win the world title during the press conference at the NAIA.
The young boxer said he wants to rest for now to heal the pain deep inside caused by the stunning loss, but vowed to come back and win his next fight.
According to Bautista's manager and benefactor Tony Aldeguer, his boxer will take a mandatory 60-day rest because of the knockout.
