CHICAGO – Rey Bautista weighs only 118 pounds as a bantamweight, but with the smoldering hype and increased expectations that he carry, “Boom-Boom” felt as though he was a bloated 200-pounder when fought the other day in Los Angeles, California.
It was Rey’s first real test in the treacherous world of boxing, an implacable universe where the average pay is low, the hurt is high, and the chance of winning a championship is meager.
Rey confessed feeling some jitters as soon as he stepped inside the glitzy Staples Center, an arena where sports legends are made. As he gazed at the venue, his eyes darting around the swelling crowd, ”Boom-Boom” realized that he had finally made it to a world-class level. But like the great ones always do, Rey rose above the challenge. Using the might of his two fists, Rey pounded the doors of fear, banged it so hard until his yearning made it fall.
Rey’s baptism of fire was a sterling success. After a cautiously sleepy start, the Boholano by way of Candijay, turned up the volume in the second stanza. And when the third round came, he morphed into a relaxed and unflappable pro, and with one blinding heave of his majestic right hand, Rey sent Felix Murillo to Kingdom Come.
It’s too early to anoint Rey as the next best thing, the blue diamond of flawless wonder among bantamweights. But there are three things about the kid that nobody disputes: Talent, courage, and power.
In other words, if Rey were indeed a diamond, he has the cherished three Cs: Cut, clarity and carats.
But perfect he isn’t. That is why his handlers, Antonio L. Aldeguer and US-based Mike Koncz, will parry the temptation to book Rey another fight so soon. To ensure a sumptuous future, this precious and precarious child of 19 will be developed like a tender, slow-cooked steak.
“I’m very happy with Rey’s performance. But Freddie Roach and I agree that ‘Boom-Boom’ needs to correct a flaw where he tends to waste too many punches. At times, he also tends to push his punches instead of throwing them. But these are minor tweaks that will be adequately addressed through hard work and training,” said Koncz in his Orange County, California home.
A few thousand miles away in his Maria Luisa palace, Aldeguer was joyous beyond emotion. “I’m so happy for Rey. He didn’t just win; he won impressively. Watching Rey’s feat punch by punch was very fulfilling.”
Like Koncz and Roach, ALA concedes that Rey is far from a finished product. “There’s work to be done. He must utilize his jab more and keep his distance. And he needs to cut the ring, not stalk his opponents.”
CAN’T TEACH TALENT. SGS stable owner and big-time promoter Samy Gello-ani also sees through those flaws, but “with maturity and more exposure,” he says Rey will be just fine. “What’s really very important is that he has talent. And that’s very crucial because in our business, you can’t teach talent.”
Unknown to many, Rey is co-trained by Edito “ALA” Villamor, the former king of flyweights. He was so good in his time, so fast, so strong, so quick. Edito was like an apparition atop the ring, foes saw him for an instance and he vanished. He showed up again and beat the bejesus out of them.
Edito sees a lot of himself in Rey. “Kusog kaayo, sir, but we still want him to improve sa iyang depensa kay lain naman gud ang level dinhi sa Amercia. Ang naka nindot lang ni Rey is that gawas sa iyang talent, maayo sab modawat og kumo (He’s strong but we want improvements on defense. The good thing with Rey, besides his talent, is the ability to take a punch).”
REFRESHINGLY HUMBLE. Predictably, Rey was refreshingly humble after the conquest. “Taghap, sir (Just got lucky),” he told me.
Having never been away from home for an extended period, he yearns for the easy comfort, the fresh air, and the love of Candijay, Bohol.
“Gi-mingaw kaayo ko nila, sir” (I miss them all), he says, his voice cracking through the long- distance phone lines.
So, where does Rey go from here?
Home sweet home.
But not for long. If all goes well, Rey might be in the undercard of the WBC heavyweight championship between Vitali Klitschko and Hasim Rahman on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand.
“If it happens, I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Aldeguer said.
I wouldn’t miss that, either. It’s one of a few more detours that Rey needs to take before he eventually bolts through the stratosphere of superstardom.
P.S. The folks of Candijay, Bohol watched Rey Bautista’s fight for free via cable TV at the municipality’s plaza. The treat was made possible by some Candijay councilors who pooled their money to foot the bill. In a country ravaged by news of violence, alleged election fraud and interminable poverty, how refreshing indeed to know that there are still places like Candijay, Bohol, where public officials care more about the simple joy of their constituents. Rey’s parents, Alberto and Susana, didn’t catch Rey’s performance on TV because they were in church praying hard and long. When they rose from the pews and proceeded towards the plaza, they were told how Rey won with flying colors. Do you believe in miracles?
