BOXING sensation Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista is now rated No. 5 World Boxing Council Bantamweight contender in its August ranking release.
The undefeated Boholano climbed two notches from No. 7 in the July rating, which also saw Cebuano boxer Malcolm Tu?acao occupy the No. 4 spot.
The title held by Japanese Hozumi Hasagawa while Genaro Garcia of Mexico and the Federacion de Central Americas Boxeo champion is the No. 1 contender while Simone Maludrotto of Italy, the European Boxing Union champion, is ranked No. 2 and former title holder Veeraphol Nakhonluang is rated No. 3.
Moved up
Tu?acao is the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation champion, while Bautista is the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific champion and is still the WBO No. 1 challenger.
The 20-year-old fighter from Candijay-Bohol moved up to the heavier superbantamweight division and is scheduled to fight on Sept. 16 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Originally, Bautista was scheduled to fight Moises Gutierrez of Chile, but the Chilean fighter was denied his US visa application, forcing the promoter Golden Boys Promotions to look for a replacement.
Training
Bautista is looking to improve his 20-0 (15 knockout) win-loss record and will leave the country on Thursday for the final phase of his training under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym. His trainer Edito Villamor will accompany him.
This would be Bautista’s fourth fight in the US.
Bautista will again appear under the rematch of Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez, which Barrera won.
