Some of the country’s top boxing scholars tipped WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista as the heir apparent to Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao galvanized his road to greatness by his audacity to fight high-profile Mexican warriors and eventually produce results beyond expectations. He brutally dismantled Marco Antonio Barrera into 11th round submission, knocked down Juan Manuel Marquez three times in the first round and lately put up a gallant – albeit for a losing cause – against Erik Morales.
Tonight, the ALA teenage sensation Bautista seeks to prove that he too could earn the respect and adoration of Mexican ring gladiators.
This as Bautista takes on Mexican hard-puncher Gilberto Bolanos in the main attraction of the must-see “El Gran Combate” boxing extravaganza presented by international promoter Sammy Gello-ani in partnership with Las Vegas starting off this 7 pm at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
Although a non-title bout scheduled for 10 rounds, the epic showdown is of historical significance as this marks for the first time that a Mexican boxer fights in Cebu.
“This is going to be a rumble,” said Bautista in anticipation of an explosive collision with Bolanos.
“I couldn’t tell what round, but definitely there’s going to be a knockdown because we both have power. I must be careful because he punches hard, but he must be careful too,” warned Bautista.
Bautista sports a sparkling 15-0 win-loss record decorated with 11KOs, while Bolanos carries a 10-8-1 win-loss-draw ledger, but could send shivers down the spines of his opponents as all of his wins are coming by way of knockout.
The Candijay, Bohol-native Bautista scaled in at 118.5 pounds, while Bolanos tipped in at 119 pounds during yesterday’s official weigh-in at the state-of-the-art ALA Boxing Gym in Nasipit, Talamban.
The 18-year-old Bautista reiterated that he is confident to prevail over Bolanos as the idea of letting his fellow countrymen down, especially his Cebuano and Boholano fans, was not conceived in his mind.
“I am fighting for the Philippines and I will win this fight. I will fight to the best of ability to give my fans the total entertainment they deserved,” said Bautista.
Meanwhile, Gello-ani announced that as what they have done in their past promotions, the fight of Bautista and Bolanos is scheduled at 9 pm in order to give the public an option to leave early or stay until the last fight.
In what will surely be a star-studded night, a pair of seductive beauties from VIVA Hot Babes members in Zara and Myles Hernandez will act as roundgirls in the main event, while VIVA recording artist Jennifer Bautista, daughter of Games and Amusements Board (GAB) commissioner Angel Bautista, will sing the Philippine national anthem.
The blockbuster show will also be televised by VIVA Sports and will be broadcast at 1 pm on Sunday.
In the undercards of the SGG Sports Promotions International-backed slugfest, WBA and IBF No. 7 and WBO No. 6 light flyweight contender Bert Batawang takes on Elmer Muyco, while Cesar Amonsot and Robert Allanic tangle with Jun Paderna and Orlan Enriquez, respectively, in the other 10-round bouts.
Three new ALA Boys who are all former amateur standouts – Rashid Bacus, Alex John Banal and Rey Caitom – will have their baptism of fire in the professional ranks against Rex Madrid, Sonny Saguing and Reymund Legaspi.
In the preliminaries, John Carlos battles Villy Bullecer, while Japanese Nori Iwatani tackles Cris Alag.
