FightFan.com caught up with Pinoy prospect sensation Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista on the steps of the famed WildCard gym in Los Angeles, CA. Hear Rey speak about his upcoming fight this Saturday on Winky Wright?s undercard, how he feels at 122 lbs, where he got the nick name ?Boom Boom?, and much more. Only on FightFan.com!
FF: FightFan.com here with Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista. Rey we?ll keep it simple, how are things, were you training just now?
RB: Yea yea?
FF: You have a fight coming up?
RB: Yes, December 2nd.
FF: In the US?
RB: Yes, Florida.
FF: Who are you fighting?
RB: Giovanni Andrade of Brazil.
FF: How are you feeling in training? Good?
RB: Yea I feel good. I?m very prepared and my conditioning is good going into this fight.
FF: Earlier in the year you had injured your collar bone, is that right? How is it now?
RB: Yea, it?s alright now. I had already trained a month in Cebu (prior to coming to LA to train at the WildCard) and did some sparring there. Then I came here and did some sparring with some very good boxers. Some Mexican fighters?
FF: There?s a lot of champions in there right now. We?re standing on the steps of the WildCard gym, you work with Freddie Roach?
RB: Yes, I work with Freddie.
FF: What does Freddie bring to the table for you?
RB: Keep off the ropes, work on my defense, also my footwork. Try not to keep too wide a stance so that I won?t be able to catch my opponent.
FF: You?re a very young fighter, how old are you?
RB: Twenty.
FF: What are some of the things you?re working on now to improve yourself in developing into a better fighter in the learning process.
RB: Working on my defense because my opponents have a lot of power. I am really working on my defense.
FF: What weight is this next fight of yours at?
RB: 122 lbs. This is my 2nd time fighting in this weight division.
FF: How do you feel at 122 as opposed to the 118 lb division? Do you feel stronger?
RB: Yea, it?s okay because I?ve grown. My height is good for the division. Before I was only 5?4, and now I?m 5?6.
FF: Do you feel your power has carried up to this new weight?
RB: Yes, because in my last fight I felt very strong at 122.
FF: How do you enjoy fighting here in the USA?
RB: I enjoy fighting here because there are lots of fans. There?s a lot of people watching boxing. When I go back to the Philippines they know I fight here in America.
FF: Do you notice that you have fans over here in America? Are people recognizing you?
RB: (Laughs) I don?t know?
FF: But back home there are a LOT of fans, right?
RB: Oh yes, back home they watch on TV. In the Philippines they keep praying for me and they call me up and say ?What?s up Boom Boom? Are you feeling good?? (Laughs)
FF: How did you get the nickname “Boom Boom”? You know of Ray Mancini right?
RB: Yes, Boom Boom Mancini. Umm? Michael Aldeguer gave me the nick name Boom Boom. Mr. Aldeguer had idolized Ray Mancini before and he saw me practicing and noticed I fight with the same style Boom Boom Mancini did. That?s why he gave me the nickname Boom Boom. But, I don?t know? (shy smile)
FF: And of course (Ace throws a 1 ? 2) BOOM BOOM.. both hands, right?
RB: Yes, (laughs)? BOOM BOOM!
FF: I?ve seen maybe eight or nine of your fights and a few guys got taken out on stretchers. You don?t want to hurt anyone, but that?s the nature of the game?
RB: Yea. I keep on practicing all the time.
FF: We?re FightFan.com so can we get you to say hello to all the FightFans out there? We have quite a few Pinoy visitors too?
RB: Hi to FightFan.com, especially to all the Filipinos watching? Please pray for me because I?ll be fighting this Saturday, December 2nd in Tampa Florida!
FF: We?ll all be watching. Best of luck and thanks for the time Rey!
RB: Thank you Ace!
