SACRAMENTO – It was 4:08 p.m. when Rey ?BoomBoom? Bautista steppedonthe official scales to be weighed for today?s title quest at the Arco Arena here in Sacramento.
By then, the Nordstrom side of the Arden Fair Mall was teeming with people, young and old. They shrieked with wild approval when Boom-Boom?s weight was announced as 121.4 pounds. A few moments later, Juan Ponce De Leon, a fine champion rode the scales. And when he too made weight, 121.6 pounds, the thick Mexican contingent went gaga.
With Oscar dela Hoya on hand, Boom-Boom and Ponce then engaged in a staredown. You could cut the tension with a knife, but neither man blinked. Their healthy disdain for each other should provide a lot of fireworks for tomorrow?s World Cup.
All of BoomBoom?s teamates made weight, including veteran Gerry Pe?alosa, who was reportedly struggling. But the 34-year-old lefty eventually hit the scales at 117.8 pounds for his championship tussle with Johnny Gonzales.
After the weigh-in Michael Aldeguer, with his wife Christine, drove the boxers and their trainers to the Fil-Am, a Pinoy bakery, which also specializes in Filipino take-out food.
The folks at Fil-Am gladly cooked for the ALA boys, culinary delights which were devoid of MSG or Ajinomoto, and were ordered with special specifications by ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor.
For reasons I insist are related to the story, I tasted the food. Yummy, it was good.
Boom-Boom sat quietly in a corner. His plate served as the final resting place for two huge slices of White Pampano fish. He also had pancit and vegetable in there.
Bert Batawang was still bitter after his fight was scrapped. He took some of the frustration towards a pile of chopsuey. The other team members also partook of the feast, grateful that their fasting ways are finally over.
And so it is here now. Philipines versus Mexico. Two nations fighting over one Cup. Tune in to AM station dyAB this morning, I?ll do a blow-by-blow coverage of this huge boxing spectacle. I will be joined by super broadcaster Leo Lastimosa, who will set up shop at the Cebu Coliseum.
