After receiving a rousing welcome in Manila, his homebase of Cebu and in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, unbeaten super-bantamweight Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista ackowledged the calls from concerned parties that he is a few fights away from getting a crack at the world title. “I know I still have a lot to learn and I think my manager is right,” said Bautista, whon first came to prominence in Sept. last year when he demolished Colombian Felix Florez in three rounds. Bautista’s chief handler Tony Aldeguer had earlier cautioned the fighter’s fans from getting carried away by the 19-year-old smashing third-round knockout win over Nicaraguan toughie Roberto Bonilla at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last May 20. “He should fight a few more times (before gunning for a world title),” said Aldeguer, who met Bautista at the airport on Friday morning.
——————————————————————————– After attending a weekly sports forum, Bautista met with Manila mayor Lito Atienza and flew to Cebu Friday night in time for the Saturday morning ferry to Tagbilaran, where mayor Dan Neri Lim prepared a grand welcome for the Candijay native. Next up for Bautista is Alejandro Felix Montiel of Mexico, a veteran fighter and knockout artist. Bautista and Montiel will see action underneath the July 2 headliner between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum.
