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BAUTISTA VOWS 'PAYBACK' ON DEC. 2 By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Tue, 23 Oct 2007  CEBU CITY--REY `Boom Boom? Bautista will try to pick himself up from the frustrating loss he suffered in his last fight as he takes on Antonio Meza of Mexico in the headliner of a major boxing event expected to rival the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas shows on December 2 at the historic Araneta Coliseum. Billed as `Payback?, the Dec. 2 event will have the 21-year-old Bautista staking his World Boxing Organization (WBO Intercontinental super-bantamweight title in his first ring appearance since a disappointing first round technical knockout loss against hard-hitting Daniel Ponce de Leon in their WBO 122-pound title fight in Sacramento, California last August. The loss was the first in Bautista?s 23 fights (23-1,17 KOs) as a professional. ?December 2 is the date of the return of Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista to bigtime boxing. We?re very honored and proud to be partnering with the fabled ALA Boxing Stable to put together this card,? said former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala in a Cebu press conference yesterday at the Colon-Magallanes Room of the upscale City Sports Club.  Third force: Former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala speaks to the media of the Dec. 2 boxing event at yesterday's press conference at the City Sports Club in Cebu. With him are, from left, ALA boxing manager Michael Aldeguer, Tagbilaran City mayor Dan Neri Lim, Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, Michael Domingo and trainer Edito Villamor.  ABC Channel 5 executives Tony Boy Cojuanco (L) and Eric Tagle at yesterday's press conference at the City Sports Club in Cebu. Eala is part of a consortium among highly-respected sports and business personalities that include Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim and ABC-5 top executives Tony Boy Cojuangco and Eric Tagle that aims to promote boxing in the country into a world-class form of entertainment. Now on the comeback trail, the native of Candijay, Bohol is aware he?s facing perhaps the toughest test of his young boxing career. ?I've prepared myself for this fight. I've learned valuable lessons in my fight with Ponce De Leon. I'm out to prove my worth again," said Bautista, who added that he's working doubly hard on his defense and using his jab more and setting up his opponents for big shots. Michael Aldeguer, president of ALA Boxing Gym under which Bautista is connected along with AJ `Bazooka? Banal, admitted the fight against Meza, 24, (23-2, 16 KOs) is going to say a lot on what the future holds for `Boom Boom.? ?It?s a very crucial fight for him especially coming off a loss against Ponce de Leon in his last outing,? stressed the son of Cebu boxing impresario Tony Aldeguer at yesterday's press conference. Banal, the rising 18-year-old Filipino boxing phenom with a record of 15 wins, 1 draw and 12 knockouts, is the featured main supporting bout, facing Mexican super-flyweight champion Jovanny Sotto for the local boy?s WBO Youth super-flyweight title. Eala is working with a promotional group called "Third Force" made up of prominent Manila businessmen staging the boxing event in cooperation with the ALA boxing gym and television network ABC-5 under businessmen Tony Boy Cojuangco and Eric Tagle who were present at the press conference along with Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim. ?This is not just my concept, but a brainchild of many people who want to help Philippine boxing. Simply put, it?s our way of elevating boxing into a world class entertainment here in the country,? said Eala, adding negotiations are now being made for the beaming of the boxing card live to the U.S. Eala also added that as part of the event's promotional push, the organizers will be putting up 2 to 3 billboards one of which will be located along Edsa measuring 450-by-100 feet. Aside from the conventional promo blitz, ABC 5 will also come up with a 4-week primer of the fight at one-hour per episode, plus other sidelights including a possible raffling off of a house and lot for lucky fans, and other entertainment packages during fight day. The official weigh-in as well as public workouts will also be done in one of the big malls in Manila, Eala added. RP bantam champ Michael Domingo fights Anthony Mathias of Africa as part of the six-fight undercard being prepared by Eala and the "Third Force" consortium. To hype up the event, the boxers are set to make a mall visit the week leading into the fight, with the official weigh-in also to be held in one of the country?s leading shopping centers. RP flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes is also groomed to see action in the undercard against Baguio City's Javier Malulan. Also set on the card are Milan Milendo, Joseph Omanz and Mark Jason Melligen. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.  |
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