In a display of awesome power, the hard-hitting World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Rey ‘Boom-Boom’ Bautista had another golden opportunity to sharpen his skills when he went four rounds of sparring with World Boxing Association No. 8 super flyweight contender Hideyoshi Ishehara yesterday afternoon at the ALA boxing gym. Bautista headlines the hotly-anticipated “El Gran Combate” card bankrolled by international promoter Sammy Gello-ani against Mexican power-hitter Gilberto Bola?os in a probable “Fight of the Year” showdown on June 11 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
In what could be his last day of combat sparring in preparation for the epic shootout,
the 18-year-old Bautista clobbered mercilessly the world-rated Japanese contender, Ishehara, who is here to train for his WBA Super-flyweight championship rematch against Martin Castillo of Mexico.
Actually, there are two other Japanese professional ringsters who are undergoing training at the ALA gym – minimumweight Suguru Takizawa and bantamweight Akio Konichi.
If what the Cebu-based, Bohol native Bautista has shown in his sparring is one indication of his fitness and readiness, it is safe to say that the youthful champion is just about ready to face what could probably be his toughest fight to date.
Tickets can be bought at the USA Sports boutiques in Ayala and SM and at the Life Prolong Office, TPE Building at Banilad and for Bohol fans at the Island Souvenirs outlet at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City and ALA Boxing Gym in Taloto.
