“I have a lot to learn, but I believe I would be a better fighter after Espinoza.”
WBO Asia-Pacific Bantamweight champion Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista considered his hard-fought victory over Gerardo “Locomotora” Espinoza last Dec. 23 as a lesson learned in his quest to get on top of his weight class.
The 19-year-old Bautista arrived last Monday in Manila and went to Tagbilaran City the next day for a two-week rest before going back to the US on Jan. 16 to train again.
More fights
“I still need a lot more fights and I still have a lot of things to learn. I am willing to do that no matter how long it will take, as long as I can get it,” Bautista said.
Sun.Star Cebu interview Bautista last Tuesday at the Villa del Sol lounge where he watched his fight last against Espinoza.
“It’s not the falling down that matters but it’s how you pick yourself up that counts the most,” he said describing his second-round knock down, his first in 19 fights.
“Espinoza taught me a lot of things, especially how to fight against a three-time world title challenger. I think I need a lot more maturity (in the ring) and avoid being too gritty,” he added.
Bautista admitted he was caught by surprise when the fight started.
“We saw a very different Espinoza on the ring than the fighter we trained for before the fight. In the videotape provided to us, we saw him fighting inside against Cruz Carvajal (for the WBO bantamweight title) that is why we trained for a close-range fight.
But on fight night, we were surprised, because he was fighting from the distance. I was adjusting on the first two rounds, luckily I had some sparring partners who fought the same way. I had a hard time adjusting to his game,” said Bautista.
Bautista even learned how to deal with a partisan crowd, who booed him when he was introduced at the largely Mexican crowd at the Sycuan Resort and Casino venue.
Bautista is scheduled for a fight in February but if that doesn’t push through, the Candijay-Bohol native will headline a Top Rank promotion fight at the Araneta Coliseum in March.
Manila
“Top Rank will again promote my fight in March after this February schedule. Sir (Antonio) Aldeguer told me that if it is not a pay-per-view event it would be held in Manila, still under the Top Rank promotions,” Bautista said.
After his two US mainland stints, Top Rank is now keen on signing Bautista, while Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar de la Hoya and Guilty Promotions are also interested in signing up Bautista.
