World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Rey ‘Boom-Boom’ Bautista has vowed to rumble when he clashes with Mexican hitman Gilberto Bolanos in a 10-round showdown highlighting a blockbuster fight card at the Mandaue City Sports Complex tonight.
Bautista (15-0, 11 KOs) displayed the flamboyance of Manny Pacquiao, when he said he wasn’t scared of the Mexican warrior, who has 10 wins all by knockouts with his losses against top-caliber world contenders—a living proof of his credentials as a worthy opponent for the 18-year-old Filipino.
The Filipino champion told Viva Sports he is in great shape and “ready to rumble,” saying he planned to take the fight to Bolanos.
He proved his devastating punching power when he decked veteran Edwin Gastador twice in the second round of public sparring at the inauguration of the Fight Club at the new Banilad Town Center in Cebu.
A vicious shot to the liver sent Gastador to his knees for the first knockdown before he crumpled in the neutral corner seconds later after another flurry of punches from Bautista.
Bolanos (10-8-1, 10 KOs), who watched Bautista demolish his sparring partner was unfazed. “I am a Mexican warrior and warriors are never afraid.”
He conceded that Bautista has “strong punches but we will see what happens in the ring. If I can finish him early, it will be better but I am ready to go the distance.”
Mexican trainer Rogelio Baldenegro said Bolanos had “trained very well and is fully prepared for anything. He didn’t show all in sparring. Just a little of what he can do. He will show his best in the ring on Saturday.”
Edito Villamor, trainer of Bautista said that Bolanos “didn’t show everything, maybe, just 40 percent of what he can do.”
