Bloodied but unbowed in his Saturday loss to Mexico?s Heriberto Ruiz in Las Vegas, superbantamweight contender Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista arrives home today facing a future that will be shaped by his own resolve to get back on track.
Bautista, 22, will plane in with stablemate Michael Domingo, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and trainer Edito Villamor. The group will likely spend a night in Manila before flying to Cebu tomorrow.
Ruiz, 31, pounded out a unanimous eight-round decision over Bautista who was floored once, took a one-point deduction for repeated low blows and suffered three cuts.
Cutman Tony Martin failed to stop the blood from turning Bautista?s face into a crimson mask starting the third round. The cuts were opened by headbutts. Because the blood impaired his vision, Bautista desperately tried to score a knockout but couldn?t catch the elusive Ruiz who employed nifty sidestepping and counterpunching tactics to breeze to victory.
Despite the loss, Bautista was encouraged by boxing experts to persevere.
Former WBC secretary-general Rudy Salud said, ?The cuts hampered his fight. He will toughen more within a year or two. I?m confident because of his heart.?
Boxing referee Bruce McTavish blamed Bautista?s corner for the setback. ?Incorrect training, bad corner and lousy cutman,? said McTavish. ?Boom Boom is one of our most skilled boxers. He has power, heart and skills. You don?t charge into an old pro (like Ruiz). You jab your way in. Otherwise, he will counter you all night. My advice is to move Boom Boom to the US because he has the skills. Everything comes from the jab.?
ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer remarked, ?We will give him a few months rest then probably get someone to train him and improve his skills more then we will ask him his preference (for a trainer).?
Aldeguer admitted the cut and knockdown threw off Bautista?s focus. ?He knew he had to score a KO and went for broke,? said Aldeguer. ?He didn?t do too badly in the first and second rounds. Up to the fifth, he was being beaten to the punch but was fighting. Ruiz is really better but Boom Boom has nothing to be ashamed of. He should have jabbed more and tried so much to knock out Ruiz.?
Fight promoter Aljoe Jaro mentioned it?s not over for Bautista. ?He?s still young,? said Jaro. ?I think he was rushed into big fights too early. He?s not yet ripe. Instead of fighting Thai patsies who?ll only roll over, Boom Boom should fight Filipinos in the top 10 GAB ratings and go for the Philippine title. Believe me, Boom Boom won?t find it easy beating Filipinos who want his world rating. For years, I?ve been trying to get Boom Boom to fight my boy Bernabe Concepcion.?
Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim said Bautista has a lot to improve on.
