CHICAGO – Every world-caliber boxer faces a day that profoundly changes his career, a day that ushers one of several tests that will eventually define his place in the championship ladder. For Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista, the dreaded moment arrives this Saturday night, when he meets the ire of a hostile Colombian named Felix Murillo.
Rey is not a stranger to big moments. He is unbeaten in 16 fights with 13 stoppages, and when he TKO’d Aree Phosuwangym in five rounds last March 11 at the Blaisdell Center in Honololu, Hawaii, he did so before a throng of several thousand blood-thristy fans.
Still, Saturday evening will be a totally different experience for Rey, it is a realm he has never been to before.
You see, this time Rey will strut his stuff at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home of the Lakers and the haven of countless Hollywood celebrities.
This time, the pride of Candijay, Bohol, will fight beneath the shadows of Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao, who will tackle different foes as stepping stones for their highly-anticipated Jan. 26 rematch at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
When Rey climbs the ring for HBO’s super-featherweight double-header, he will feel like the opening act for a Rolling Stones concert. A capacity crowd of 19,060 will ogle at him while millions of others around the world will be glued to their TV sets, watching every breath Rey takes, every jab he makes.
High stakes and an electric environment are the harsh conditions that make even the best retreat. But not Rey, he had come too far, worked too hard to be here. He will not recoil like a shrinking violet, telling me: ”Ganahan hinuon ko anang daghang tawo, sir.” (I like it when lots of people watch).
THE WORKOUT. Training day begins for Rey at 6:30 a.m., when he eagerly slips into a pair of running shoes and busts his lungs for a few miles. A couple of hours later, Rey has a choice of oatmeal or cereal for breakfast. Either way, he wolfs it down like a famished cast away.
It’s gym time at around 10 a.m., and Mike Koncz, along with Bobby Pacquiao and Diosdado Gabi, navigates the 45-minute drive from Orange County to the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, where Freddie Roach and Cebu ring icon Edito “ALA” Villamor take turns in doing the mitts with Rey.
While in LA, Rey has sparred a total of 70 rounds, including a spirited Monday session with Jose Navarro, a 115-pounder ranked No.1 by the WBC, No.3 by the WBA, No.5 by the IBF and No.6 by the WBF. Like Rey’s next foe this Saturday, Navarro is a southpaw.
Lunch arrives sharply at noon, and it is usually chicken or fish soup with rice. A little break in between and more workout ensues. Beef or sausage dinner is at 7 p.m., and thanks to co-manager Mike Koncz, a remarkable chef who whips Filipino delicacies with gusto, Rey’s 118-pound frame is never wanting for good food.
Lights are out at 9 pm.
THE FOE. Felix Murillo has a so-so 13-4-1 record. But with 11 KOs, he has a drill for a left hand. The Colombian has a rap of being dirty, but he is also known as extremely tough and can take a punch. In short, Rey’s opponent isn’t a patsy.
But Rey is ready. He is in superb condition, with both legs prepared to go the distance. And both his fists are cocked, ready to throw mayhem.
As toughness and mental fortitude goes, Rey is probably the most equipped among all bantamweights in the planet.
Nine years ago, while biking amid the debris of super typhoon Nitang, a pointed piece of bamboo was embedded in young Rey’s head. Bleeding profusely, the then 10-year-old walked some 10 kilometers looking for help, drinking his own blood while struggling to stay conscious.
Upon arriving home, his petrified parents didn’t rush Rey to the hospital.
Instead, they pulled the invading stick out of their son’s cranuim and administered horseradish and guava leaves on the open wound. To this day, Rey carries that scar on his head, a reminder of a painful past, and a badge of his courage.
If Rey could handle such life-and-death situation with effortless grace, I have a feeling he will dispatch Felix Murillo with devastating ease, mangling the Colombian as if he were a tiny piece of debris blocking Rey’s path to stardom.
P.S. Mike Koncz, Rey’s co-manager, gave me a call last night. He thanked me for what he called “an exceptional article” which I wrote about Bautista yesterday. I was flattered, of course, but I wasn’t prepared for what Mike told me next.
He offered to give me a round-trip airline ticket from Chicago to L.A. for Saturday’s fight. And since his house is quite far in Orange County, Mike also offered to book me in a hotel near the Staples Center. ”I want you to see Bautista fight in person,” he said.
Unfortunately, I have to decline Mike’s generosity because I just can’t leave my job in Chicago on short notice. Mike made the same offer for Bobby Pacquiao’s Oct. 8 fight. I hope I can come, Mike.
