When Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista first stepped off the plane in Dubai he was stunned by his popularity among the expatriate Filipino community.
Living in the shadows of the inimitable Manny Pacquiao, the World Boxing Organisation?s welterweight champion and the No 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Bautista never expected to be recognised in the UAE.
?This is my first time here in Dubai,? said the 23-year-old, who will take on Thailand?s Saichon Sotornpitak at The Lodge tomorrow night in a 10-round contest which headlines KO Promotion?s Philippines versus The Rest of the World card.
?All the Filipinos at the airport, they know me. I was happy. I thought I was popular only in the Philippines, but knowing that I have fans here in Dubai gives me encouragement.
?Wherever I go, people are stopping to take pictures with me. They recognise me. They have inspired me to do well in the upcoming fight and I hope I will give them something to celebrate.?
Despite Pacquiao?s overwhelming presence, Bautista has been able to carve a niche for himself with a 27-2 record, which includes 20 KOs.
Using boxing as his ticket to escape from poverty, he has fought on the undercard of Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya bouts at venues like the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He was undefeated in his first 23 bouts and earned a shot at the WBO super bantamweight world title.
However, just a week before his title bout with Daniel Ponce de Leon, Bautista suffered a broken bone in his left wrist during a sparring session. He went ahead with the fight but lost on a technical knockout in the first round.
He later took a year out to have wrist surgery and moved up a division to featherweight on his return. Now he is itching to get back in the ring and follow in Pacquiao?s footstep.
?Manny has opened the doors to the world for us Filipino boxers,? he said. ?For me, he is an idol. I want to be Manny Pacquiao, that?s why I have come back to boxing. I dream about it, and I am sure I can make it.?
In the other fights tomorrow night, co-sanctioned by the World Boxing Council and the World Kickboxing Federation, Bautista?s compatriot Milan Melindo, the reigning WBC Youth Intercontinental flyweight champion, will put his title and undefeated record on the line against Thailand?s Komrit Twins-Gym, while the up-and-coming Hilario ?Bon Jovi? Canillas will take on Fred Simon of Tanzania.
There will also be a seven-round Thai boxing tag team contest and a mixed martial arts fight to round off the evening.
