BOHOLANO Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista proved he not only can whack and crack yesterday as he survived a second-round scare to outpoint Mexican Gerardo Espinoza in their eight-round bout at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon, California.
After a very close opening round, the dynamite-fisted Espinoza took the lead by hurting Bautista after a torrid exchange then knocking down the Filipino fighter with a thundering right near the end of the round.
Bautista, the reigning WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion, regained his composure at the break then went on to outclass the game Mexican the rest of the way.
The Filipino capped his comeback by totally dominating the Tijuana fighter in the eighth which proved crucial in the end.
Judges Jos‚ Cobi n and Fritz Warner both scored it 76-75 which meant that they had the fight even after seven rounds.
The third judge, Pat Russell, had Bautista the clear winner at 77-74.
“This fight provided Bautista his litmus test. This should put to rest insinuations that he is just a knockout fighter,” said Sammy ‘Don King’ Gello-ani, Bautista’s promoter in the Philippines, in an interview right after the fight.
“This proves that the boy also has the skills to make it big,” he added.
The win improved Bautista’s unblemished record to 19 wins with 14 KOs, and further boosted his stock in the international scene.
The victory also virtually assured him of an improvement in his World Boxing Council ratings, and solidified his hold of the WBO No. 1 position.
Bautista gained notice when he started a three-fight, all-knockout spree by Filipino fighters in Los Angeles last September.
Known as Boom Boom precisely becuse of his booming fists, Bautista first stopped Felix Murillo of Colombia in three rounds of an eight-rounder.
Hawaii-based Fil-American Brian Viloria then dethroned World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Eric Ortiz of Mexico with an impeccable first-round demolition.
Manny Pacquiao capped the rare display by halting veteran journeyman Hector Velasquez of Mexico in the sixth round of their 12-round clash for the WBC International super featherweight crown.
