It won’t be in Manila. Not in Las Vegas. Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista will have his second WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title defense before his fellow Boholanos in Tagbilaran City on Nov. 19.
Since his stellar third-round knockout of Columbian Felix Murillo in the “Double Trouble” boxing extravaganza at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, fight offers have flooded the youthful boxing phenomenon from Candijay, Bohol.
His handlers earlier negotiated for Bautista to fight in the undercard of the Vitali Klitschko-Rahim Rachman WBC heavyweight title fight on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas, while promoters from Manila also wanted to have the 19-year-old fighter hold his title defense at the Araneta Coliseum.
Opponent
However, his handlers decided to hold Bautista’s title defense at his hometown province, where the local government officials are very supportive.
Bautista’s challenger will be announced in a press conference on Monday, which will be attended by promoter Sammy Gello-ani, Bautista’s manager Antonio Aldeguer and Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim. (RCM)
