World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista of the famed ALA Boxing Club is fit and ready when he enplanes for Honolulu, Hawaii this Saturday with trainer Edito ?ALA? Villamor to take up his first ever fight in the United States.
The teenage boxing sensation from Bohol, who remains undefeated in 14 fights embellished with 10 KOs, is slated to slug it out with Aree Phosuwangym of Thailand, who parades a 8-2-1 win-loss-draw record, in a 10-round main attraction on March 11 at the Neal Blaisdell Center.
The Cebu-based Boholano, who hails from the municipality of Candijay, will headline the star-studded card promoted by Fil-Am impresario Richard Villaver. The event will also feature some of the heavyweight fighters from the mainland.
It is notable to mention that one of the only two losses of Phosuwangym was inflicted by Thai Saensak Singmanassak, who was knocked out by Bautista when both fought for the then vacant WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title on August 17 last year at the Mandaue City Sports Complex.
After his Hawaii jaunt, the 18-year-old Bautista is set to leave for Los Angeles and then to Las Vegas to be at the ringside to cheer for stablemate Z Gorres, when the latter also makes his US debut on March 19 in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales historic battle at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Bautista, who recently defended his WBO regional belt after pounding out a lopsided unanimous decision win over South African Vuyisile Bebe, is also set to spend a few weeks at the Wild Card Gym of noted American ring strategist Freddie Roach to do some sparring with Mexican and American fighters.
International promoter Sammy ?Don King? Gello-ani will also accompany Bautista in the US to meet with some boxing promoters and managers in Los Angeles to scout for the next probable opponent for Bautista.
