Philippines, 26 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


'BOOM-BOOM' STILL PINES FOR DE LEON BOUT


PhilBoxing.com




Acknowledging that he made too many mistakes in their first encounter, ALA fighter Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista has vowed to be a much more mature fighter and rectify past shortcomings as he traces the long road back to glory with a comeback fight on October 16 against Indonesia's Marangin Marbun at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Although not looking past his next opponent, however, the 23-year-old native of Candijay, Bohol also made known that he wants to get rid of a monkey off his back, that is to face once again Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon, who shamed him with an earth-shaking first-round TKO defeat at the Boxing World Cup in 2007.

"That's the fight that I still dream up to this day. I want to face whoever they want to put in front of me, but a fight with Ponce de Leon mesmerizes me no end," said Bautista in an interview over radio program "Pinoy Boxing" over DyHP-RMN last Sunday.

Coming off a long layoff and a left hand operation, Bautista takes the first step toward that dream when he takes on Marbun for the vacant interim WBC International featherweight title headlining the "Hamon sa Kampeon" card.

"I've learned a lot as a fighter after my loss to Heriberto Ruiz. I'm sorry I have disappointed a lot of fans. But we all make mistakes. Im just a fighter. I have learned my lessons well," added Bautista, who remains to this day a hugely-popular local fighter due to his hold-no-prisoner fight attitude.

ALA trainer Franklin Albia, who gets pointers from Edito and Ala Villamor in training Bautista, has indicated that they have incorporated several technical additions to Boom-Boom's style, aimed at making him move his head better without depriving him of his usual exciting style.

The Villamor brothers have delegated the coaching chores to Albia as they have been jetsetting to and from the United States with sidetrips to Mexico accompanying other ALA fighters now campaigning abroad.

"In fact, me and Edmund will be leaving on October 18 again for the US. He will be in LA, and I'll be going to Las Vegas to watch over (Z) Gorres and (Mark) Melligen, respectively," clarified Ala Villamor, one of the busiest ring tacticians in the country today.

Gorres is set to face Eric Morel for the interim WBO bantam title underneath the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto superbout on Nov. 14, while Melligen takes on Mexican Michel Rosales the night before.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • OLYMPIC BOXING 8: 1948 OLYMPICS AT LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026
  • Golden Gloves Launches on Meta Quest Store, Establishing the First Official Esports Competition Pathway for Amateur Boxing
    , Mon, 26 Jan 2026
  • Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Donaire back in Cebu
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
    , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.