IT WAS indeed a scary moment for the usually astute backer of Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista Saturday morning (Manila Time) in California as he could not precisely describe the punch that floored the Boholano phenom for the first time of his young boxing career. “What a fight.”
Was the first line Tony Aldeguer uttered out after the Bulletin contacted the Cebu-based businessman through his mobile phone minutes after they won their third straight bout in the United States.
Saturday morning (Manila Time), the 18-year-old Bautista survived a 2nd round knockdown and score a close but unanimous 8-round verdict over a game but outfoxed Gerardo Espinoza of Mexico at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon, California.
“I really was not able to see the punch because I was so nervous I was not able to watch the replay on the screen,” admitted the unfussy and well-liked Aldeguer.
The Bulletin was fortunate enough to be provided a tape of the fight.
With 43 seconds remaining in the second round, Bautista (19-0, 14 KO’s) at first staggered the 25-year-old Espinoza with a fierce right straight that made the knees of the Mexican rickety.
Like a marauder ready to bag his prized catch, Bautista immediately leaped in and was ready to dispatch unremitting blows that would have ended the night for Espinoza.
But eager to show his experience of fighting world champions in the past, Espinoza instead rocked Bautista with a crisp counter right straight then followed it up with a jab-straight combo that gave the Boholano sensation his first taste of a canvas.
“At that point, the people from the Top Rank group believe Rey won’t be able to go up,” disclosed Aldeguer, credited for producing several world champions thru his famed ALA Gym.
Bautista was able to stand up against rubbery legs and survived the round. Still shaky from the trip to the deck, Bautista even went to the wrong corner at the round’s end.
“It was a hard knockdown but he came on, sucked it up and went on to do real well,” revealed American trainer Freddie Roach who worked at the corner of Bautista.
Heeding the instructions of Roach and Filipino trainer Edito Villamor, Bautista worked on his jabs and body shots to eventually tire out his Mexican foe the rest of the way to seal a victory on all three judges with scores of 76-75, 76-75 and 77-74.
“Akala namin hindi na tatayo si Rey kasi malakas yung tumama sa kaniya. Pero talagang matapang itong bata,” said Villamor, a two-time world title challenger.
Aldeguer is slated to be back early next year but Bautista and Villamor will remain in the United States and wait for confirmation of another meaningful fight against a high caliber foe possibly in February.
