CEBU CITY, Philippines ? At 24 years of age, the bitter prospect of retirement is staring Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista in his face.
Saturday night at the Waterfront Hotel, Bautista gets the chance to prove he still has what it takes as he clashes with one-time tormentor and seasoned campaigner Heriberto Ruiz of Mexico in a 12-round featherweight duel for the International Boxing Federation International title.
Bautista had faced Ruiz in Las Vegas in November 2008 and lost on points after suffering a knockdown but the Filipino puncher once dubbed as a future world champion insists the outcome would be different this time.
?This fight is ours,? Bautista told Manila-based scribes after weighing in at 125 ? lbs. Ruiz, who arrived here last Monday, came in at the weight limit of 126.
Bautista said he was ?not focused mentally? the first time he met Ruiz and he had a severe left hand injury at that time.
Later, it was discovered that Bautista had a rotten bone chip on his wrist and he immediately underwent surgery at the high-end Asian Hospital in Alabang, Metro Manila.
Even Michael Aldeguer, Bautista?s chief handler, admits they?re taking a huge risk in pitting Bautista against the battle-scarred Ruiz.
?He begged for this fight,? said Aldeguer of his ward who sports a 30-2-0 win-loss-draw record.
