MANILA, Philippines — Two Filipino boxers figure in bouts on Sunday which, needless to say, they cannot afford to lose.
There?s the vastly popular Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista who undergoes a much-needed check-up after figuring in a demoralizing first-round crash in Sacramento, California, as chief warrior of the RP team in the World Cup of Boxing.
Bautista clashes with Mexican Antonio Meza at the Araneta Coliseum.
Not in the same card, but around the same time, Filipino International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire seeks a confirmatory follow-up to his fifth-round demolition of Vic Darchinyan in the first defense of his 112-pound crown.
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There should be no blinking for Bautista, who was stopped cold on his shaky tracks by Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon in Sacramento when the RP team suffered its lone loss against Mexico in the World Cup.
There were late reports, culled from a deeper detailed review of Meza?s record, which tend to show the Mexican may not be as good as advertised.
But whether or not Meza would prove no better than all the assorted patsies Bautista had flattened in his prodigious but otherwise empty rise to stardom, there?s no turning back now.
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At least fans, expected to come running to Araneta on Sunday, could always have a fallback bout when AJ Banal tries to extend his unblemished victory run against another Mexican. RP bantamweight champ Michael Domingo, another sensation at the World Cup, sees action in the same card.
Anyway, as far as Donaire is concerned, there were conflicting reports on his stature and capability.
His fifth-round one-punch stoppage of Darchinyan was both brilliant and stunning but there next came claims it could be nothing more than a lucky punch.
Worse, there were contentions the knockout was plainly a fluke.
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Well, no matter what, it?s pure and clear Donaire is a legit world title-holder.
He did not have to step over the silly heads of patsies lined up to embellish his career.
He has also conducted himself like a true gentleman, sharp, humble and articulate, outside the ring.
He was a walking advertisement of a lovable Filipino.
Of course, it won?t be easy, this first title defense, but Donaire knows whereof he stands.
He need not be told that his resounding victory over Darchinyan did serve only as his baptism.
On Sunday, in full view of his countrymen, thanks to the magic of the satellite, Donaire goes for a confirmatory victory against Luis Maldonado in Connecticut.
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Has Boom Boom Bautista matured instantly after that unsettling setback against Ponce De Leon?
Can Donaire handle the monumental task of affirming his stardom?
Two Filipinos see action in separate bouts, thousand of miles apart, on Sunday.
If fate would grant a win to only one of the two, who between Bautista and Donaire would you choose?
Would you pick the more popular over the worthier warrior?
Did they have to rush Bautista in a blind bid to redeem himself and regain everything he lost when he suffered an instant blackout in his first fight against a truly classy opponent?
Well, the best that can be said here is that Bautista?s fight on Sunday, whether against another patsy or a certified warrior, should be nothing more than a check-up.
The full-scale repair job could follow much later, one step at a time.
