WITH NO less than Golden Boy Oscar dela Hoya as his chief backer, Boholano boxing phenom Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista’s quest for a world title fight may come sooner than expected.
According to Bautista’s Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani, Dela Hoya’s promotional outfit Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) is lining up the teenage sensation for a possible crack at the world title sometime in September or October.
Gello-ani along with Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer recently entered into a promotional deal with GBP in promoting the upcoming fights of Bautista and another Cebuano boxer Z Gorres in the United States.
Gello-ani said they are training their sights on current World Boxing Organization (WBO) superbantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon of Mexico.
De Leon is scheduled to defend his crown against Alejandro Barrera this weekend in Carson City, California and Bautista is expected to watch the title fight as Gorres is also slated to see action in the same fight card.
Gorres, meanwhile, will challenge Puerto Rican Jose Laureano in a 10-round non-title fight which is also expected to be the Cebuano’s final hurdle for a crack at the WBO world superflyweight title.
“We will finally determine Bautista’s readiness come July 2 where he will face a tough Mexican foe,” said Gello-ani in an overseas interview with Bulletin-Tempo.
The 19-year-old Bautista is set to battle Mexican Alejandro Montiel on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum which will serve as one of the undercards of the 12-round match between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Larios of Mexico.
Against Montiel, Bautista will face the toughest opponent of his budding three-year career.
The 58-fight veteran Montiel, a long-time WBC Continental champion, has faced several world caliber boxers during his 17-year career, two of which were title fights.
The 35-year-old Montiel, who is coming off a two-fight win streak, lost two world title bids, first to IBF flyweight champion Mark Johnson in 1997, then to Irene Pacheco in 2002 for the same diadem.
In the meantime, Bautista will reportedly conduct his training schedule at the ALA Boxing gym in Mandaue City for his forthcoming bout against Montiel.
Bautista is expected to be back in Cebu sometime next week.
