WBO Asia Pacific bantam king Rey Bautista isn't leaving anything to chance as he embarks on his first battle against a Mexican hombre on June 11.
The 18-year-old Bautista just got a special helping hand from no less than the RP Jr. Lightweight champion Bobby Pacquiao, younger brother of people's featherweight champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, when the latter agreed to spar with the teenaged phenom at the ALA boxing gym.
Outweighed by some 15 pounds but never outhustled, the teen-aged Bautista engaged the much-heavier RP champion in a torrid exchange during their two-round sparring session yesterday afternoon.
Pacquiao is currently in Cebu training at the ALA gym in preparation for a scheduled fight in the US on June 17.
Training and sparring together is a rare opportunity for both Bautista and Pacquiao who trains under the tutelage of ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor.
When asked about his assessment after going two rounds with the Cebu based Boholano, Pacquiao said, “Bautista is in top-shape. He has a good jab and throws a lot of combination. He is ready.”
With barely two weeks before the mega fight on June 11, 2005 at the Mandaue Sports Complex, the strong-fisted champion Bautista is fast reaching his peak and will surely be in top shape on fight night.
Meanwhile, the Mexican punching machine, Gilberto Bolanos is set to arrive with his trainer, Rogelio Baldenegro on June 7, 2005 from Mexico City on a direct flight to Cebu via Hong Kong.
The mammoth boxing event will be televised by VIVA Sports and shown on the popular TV program Main Event every Sunday afternoon at 1 pm sponsored by Tanduay, the No. 1 Rum.
The brisk sales of tickets is a strong indication of another sell-out crowd which could even surpass the record-attendance of the Bautista-Bebe title fight held last January 19, 2005 at the same venue.
Tickets are now on sale at the USA Sports outlets in Ayala and SM.
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