FREDDIE ROACH can probably see Manny Pacquiao in the person of Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista.
The top trainer told the Bulletin yesterday from the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood that Bautista has what it takes to make it big someday since like his prized pupil Pacquiao, Bautista has the swagger and firepower of Pacquiao.
“What I like about Boom Boom is that he wants to kill you with every punch that he throws,” said Roach, two days after Bautista – just 19 years old – demolished Nicaraguan Ricardo Bonilla in less than three rounds at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Bautista, now campaigning in the super-bantamweight division of 122 lbs, is booked to face Alejandro Montiel on July 2 as part of a slambang undercard of the Pacquiao versus Oscar Larios headliner at the Araneta Coliseum.
While most ringsiders, even those from the US, believe Bautista is ripe for a crack at the world title, Roach expressed the opinion that the Candijay, Bohol native still has to learn a few more tricks.
“I don’t want to rush him. He’s just 19 and maybe in a year, he will be ready (to fight for the world title),” said Roach, who called the shots in Bautista’s corner with Edito Villamor and former Cebu-based American Tony Martin lending a hand.
Bautista began working out at the Wild Card last year when he was preparing to make his US mainland debut which took place also at the Staples Center where he bludgeoned Colombian Felix Flores.
Bautista fights under the ALA Boxing Club of Tony Aldeguer which recently forged a promotional deal with Oscar dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP). Aldeguer received legal advise from Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, a hardcore boxing fan, before deciding to hook up with the Los Angeles-based GBP last March.
On the local front, longtime boxing man Ramon Lainez was awed with what he had seen in Bautista.
“Bautista was truly impressive,” said Lainez. “Boom Boom not only hits hard. He also placed his punches well.”
