CEBU – The handlers of Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista believes that it is not yet the end of the road for their prized ward?s fistic career after he suffered another heart-rending defeat, this time at the hands of the highly experienced Mexican bomber Heriberto Ruiz two nights ago at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But some major changes have to be made as they re-launch their herculean mission to transform the WBO top junior featherweight contender Bautista into a top-grade, legitimate world title challenger.
Highly esteemed boxing patron Antonio ?Bidoy? L. Aldeguer, though now working in the shade of his son Michael who is already in charge of the ALA Boxing Gym affairs, said they plan to hire a regular foreign strategist to look after Bautista while he trains in the United States next year.
?We will give him (Bautista) a few months rest then probably get someone to train him and improve his skills more than we will ask him his preference,? said Aldeguer. ?We?ve already exposed him to the transfer of technology but it?s not enough. We seemed to have our limitation. That?s why we have to look for someone who can transform him into something. We have to learn things that we don?t know,? he admitted.
Aldeguer said he already has a short list of potential candidates as Bautista?s chief trainer, but couldn?t divulge yet their names so as not to pre-empt the situation.
?There?s already somebody negotiating with us. He heard about the ALA Boys and he wants to get involved with us. He?s even willing to come here on his own. But he must know me first rather than I?m going to know him,? said Aldeguer.
Aldeguer made it clear though that ALA Stable tactician Edito Villamor will stay with Team Bautista.
?He (Villamor) will still be there, this time as back-up just like what is Buboy Fernandez to Freddie Roach [in training Manny Pacquiao].?
On his assessment of Bautista?s performance against Ruiz, Aldeguer said there was no doubt the Boholano ring icon lost to a superior and more composed fighter.
?We are very sorry to disappoint the Filipino people on the loss of Boom Boom. We did our best and we fought hard but our best wasn?t enough,? said Aldeguer.
?He (Bautista) went for broke after he was knocked down and suffered a cut in the third round. He lost his focus after that. But let?s give it to the guy (Ruiz). Boom Boom lost to a better fighter. No excuses,? he added.
The Ruiz bout would have been Bautista?s chance to redeem lost pride and glamour after his humiliating first round-knockout defeat to former WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon on August 12, 2007 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
Now Bautista has to go back from scratch after being demolished by Ruiz in eight rounds of one-sided battle.
