FILIPINO warriors Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista, Milan “Milenyo”Melindo and Larry “Bon Jovi”Canillas are ready to fight in front of their kababayans in Dubai as they headline Philippines vs. The Rest of The World tonight at The Lodge.
“Everything is okay here,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said in a text message yesterday. “I was shocked with the number of Filipinos in Dubai. They’re all over the place.
A lot of Filipinos are excited with the event because it’s the first time that Filipinos are here to fight.”
Filipinos comprise a huge percentage of the foreign workers in Dubai so the promoters, ALA Promotions and the Dubai-based KO Promotions, expect a huge contingent of Filipinos attending the boxing event.
Bautista is on a comeback trail following a string of losses-against Daniel Ponce De Leon and Heriberto Ruiz–and a career-threatening wrist injury that needed surgery.
The 23-year-old ALA fighter is taking on up-and-coming Thai prospect Saichon Sotornpitak.
Bautista is 27-2 with 20 KOs and is off a devastating seventh round stoppage over tough Indonesian Maragain Marbun, while the 27-year-old Sotornpitak is 10-1 with five KOs. He just suffered his first defeat in his last fight against previously unbeaten Georgi Kevlishvili.
Melindo, 22, was supposed to face world-rated Devis Perez, but will instead be facing Kromrit Twins Gym of Thailand.
Perez couldn’t leave in time for Dubai because of the flights disruption caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.
The boxing event will be shown on Sunday at 8 a.m. on ABS-CBN and will be replayed at 2 p.m. on Studio 23.
