REY ?Boom Boom? Bautista was a blooming young pugilist who was eyed to become a world champion, but an injury that he had been keeping secretly with him threatened to end his boxing career for good.
Bautista had been feeling pain in his left wrist but he kept this a secret from his handlers for fear he wouldn?t be allowed to box.
Bautista had been enduring the pain since he was a young undefeated prospect in 2007, when an opportunity to become a world champion opened up for him. He was pitted against Daniel Ponce De Leon, the then World Boxing Organization super bantamweight titleholder, where Bautistasuffered his first loss with a quick and disappointing first-round knockout.
?He was suffering from the injury when he was fighting De Leon last November. We only found out how serious it was when we had his wrist checked after his fight with Heriberto Ruiz. But we never made that injury an excuse for those losses.
We give credit to his opponents, who fought really well,? said ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer.
Bautista underwent an operation last February at the Manila Doctors Hospital, where the damaged bone had to be completely removed and replaced with a bone taken from his hip.
?His injury was serious. The bone on his wrist was so rotten that the damage could have spread to other parts. It was career-threatening,? said Aldeguer.
Bautista, 22, is now attending regular physical therapy sessions at the Perpetual Succour Hospital.
?He is doing well and he?s healing earlier than expected,? said Aldeguer.
Although he still hasn?t fully healed from his injury, Bautista is determined to continue boxing as he never stopped training.
?He?s very dedicated to boxing. He has been diligently reporting to the gym and even with a cast in his hand, he works on his footwork and has not stopped jogging. He is now starting to shadowbox,? he said.
Aldeguer disclosed that Bautista might be returning to the ring on Nov. 14 in Cebu for an important fight that they hope will revive his young professional boxing career and provide him with a chance to follow his quest for a world title.
?This will be a crucial fight for him. He has been through a lot in his career. But the good thing is, he?s still determined and I think he still has what it takes to become a world champion.?
