Whether Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista is the real thing or just a passing fancy will be known when he takes on unbeaten Sergio (Rocky) Medina of Argentina in a WBO superbantamweight 12-round title eliminator at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas this Sunday morning (Manila time).
Bautista, 20, will be tested once and for all by Medina who boasts a 28-0 record, with 16 KOs including five in the first round. If he wins, the Candijay, Bohol, slugger will challenge WBO champion Daniel Ponce de Leon in his next fight.
The jury is still out on Bautista who has yet to face formidable opposition but Medina will finally end speculation on Boom Boom?s worth.
“This is Boom Boom?s biggest test,” said ALA boxing stable owner Tony Aldeguer whose son Michael is Bautista?s registered manager. “If Medina chooses to slug it out, I think Boom Boom will win by knockout. I expect Medina to fight in and out. I think Boom Boom has more than a 50-50 chance to win.”
Aldeguer said from watching Medina on tape, he anticipates a tough fight for Bautista.
“Medina?s a little awkward,” said Aldeguer. “I don?t think he hits as hard as Boom Boom. He likes to move around. He has never fought outside of Argentina and might be awed by the glamour of Las Vegas.”
Aldeguer said Bautista will pressure Medina from the first bell.
“Boom Boom has trained very hard for Medina,” said Aldeguer. “If Medina runs, he?ll pursue him and wear him down with body shots. Boom Boom has matured a lot and he?s become very flexible. He won?t rush things. In the gym, Freddie (Roach) worked with Boom Boom on tactics to stop a runner. Medina is a skilled fighter but I don?t think he?ll be able to take Boom Boom?s power.”
Aldeguer said Bautista will beat Medina with his jab, patience, footwork and power.
“Boom Boom has learned to be patient,” he said. “He first studies his opponent and figures out how to beat him. He?s not a one-track minded fighter who just looks for a quick knockout. He?ll box if he has to. He wants to be like Manny (Pacquiao) who wins with speed, power, his unique skills, toughness and guts. He?ll break down Medina?s defense then go for a knockout. He fights with a lot of confidence.”
Bautista has logged five fights in the US but never in Las Vegas. In 2004, he set a record by becoming the first Filipino fighter to win consecutive bouts in Indonesia, Korea and Japan. Bautista is coming off a third round stoppage of Mexico?s Marino Gonzalez for the WBO Intercontinental and Youth superbantamweight titles in Cebu last February. His record is 22-0, with 17 KOs.
Medina, 25, has won the WBA Fedelatin, WBO Latino and WBO Mundo Hispano superbantamweight championships. In his most recent fight last December, he outpointed Victor Corvalan in a six-rounder. Medina is ranked No. 6 by the Ring Magazine while Bautista is not in the top 10, an indication that the Argentine is held in high regard.
Bautista?s ability to take a punch became a questionable issue when he was decked by Gerardo Espinoza in the second round of a fight in El Cajon, California, two years ago. Bautista was badly shaken but managed to survive and pound out an eight-round decision. The fight proved his resiliency and recuperative powers.
Medina is hoping to follow in the footsteps of legendary Argentine champions Pascual Perez (who decisioned Filipino challenger Dommy Ursua in a world flyweight title bout in Manila in 1958), Carlos Monzon, Victor Galindez and Juan Martin Coggi (who stopped Filipino champion Morris East for the WBA superlightweight crown in Buenos Aires in 1993).
