REY ?Boom-Boom? Bautista gave a good credible performance last Sunday against a tough, determined warrior who had no quit in him. This is how comebacks are properly done and I give Bautista?s management team all the props for picking the right opponent.
Antonio ?Barrio? Meza, now 23-4 with 16 KOs, will probably never be a world champion someday, but the telling factor was that he showed he belonged in the ring with Bautista and that could be a cause for concern.
Boom-Boom wasn?t exactly dominant in earning the unanimous decision win–and if that was a measuring yardstick on where he is right now– he?s got his work cut out for him.
The good thing is that he answered some questions on his suspect jaw. Meza nailed him with several chin-checkers and Bautista acquitted himself very well. At least he proved that it could withstand some heavy bombardment–at least not of the Daniel Ponce de Leon type.
However, the fight once again highlighted Bautista?s eagerness and tendency to brawl. He needs to get back to the basics. Box. Move. Jab.
Bautista?s power will always be there. Heck, it?ll be with him till he turns 64. But the key is learning to set up his power punches so he can dish out clean, effective combinations. He just cannot boom-boom his way to a win every time.
Even though he called out de Leon immediately afterwards, I doubt he belongs in the same ring with the former at this point in his career. The good thing is that Boom Boom is a young kid and time is still on his side. For now.
BAZOOKA. Contrast Bautista?s bushwhacking display to AJ ?Bazooka? Banal?s performance and you have an idea of where I?m getting at. Banal slipped punches and countered beautifully. The only thing that kept Jovanny Soto hanging on till the ninth round was his incredible display of endurance.
I think most of you will agree that Bazooka is a better prospect at this stage in his career than Boom-Boom was.
THINKING FLASH. Nonito Donaire Jr. is for real. Those sizzling right hands and crisp left hooks were absolutely impressive. Speed and power are this kid?s main weapons but his ability to think intelligently inside the ring and react to what his opponent is doing is what will set him apart from the rest.
Great job Flash. Here?s to our tequila night when you come back to Cebu.
HO HUM. I could not make up my mind whether or not to join my media brethren in covering ?Payback? live at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.
Friday morning came, but I was still undecided. However, a few hours later, Sen. Antonio Trillanes? made his ill-advised decision to hector another failed power grab and that made my decision to stay behind a lot easier.
So what do I get for deciding to have a lazy Sunday behind the tube? A television coverage that lasted an incredible five to six hours due to the numerous commercials between rounds.
I don?t know about you guys, but at times, I found myself stifling a yawn during the telecast. I realize that free boxing shows in television do not come cheap, but at what price?
My brother Ramsey?the legal virtuoso that he is?opined that the public service component is deemed enshrined into every advertising agreement and these executives should be more mindful of that fact.
I could only sigh in agreement, as my lazy Sunday afternoon was now fast turning into a blurry Sunday afternoon.
It got to a point where my impatient and inquisitive six-year-old daughter Julia stepped in to give us a piece of her brilliant mind: ?Daddy, stop watching that and let?s go home. No wonder it?s taking too long, there are so many commercials and so they?re giving the other boxer time to recover.?
Ha! Now I know who has the brains in the family.
LAST ROUND. It?s on my kumpadre Atty. Franco Pagaran, the new head honcho of Barangay Sacsac, Consolacion. Cheers!
