WBO #1 ranked bantamweight Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista (18-0, 14 KOs) is just 19 years of age. Yet, he is already a mega star in his homeland of the Philippines. In Bautista?s last fight, 25,000 packed the outdoor venue of los P. Garcia Sports Complex, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines. This number is greater than the amount of fans who attended Manny Pacquaio?s fight a year earlier, just to put the number in perspective.
Bautista will bring his undefeated record and world ranking to Sycuan Resort & Casino, El Cajon, CA, where he will face dangerous Geraldo Espinoza (28-9, 26 KOs). Espinoza not only brings knockout power but experience, having faced two former world champions and one current champ. Fightnews.com caught up with Bautista at the Coyote Cafe in San Diego where the press conference was held to announce the show.
Rey you’re only 18 years of age and you already have fought 18 fights. How old were you when you turned professional? I was 16 years old when I turned professional. It is not unheard of in the Philippines for someone have as many professional fights as I do by the time they turn my age.
It?s been reported that your last fight in the Philippines drew 25,000 people which is more than what Manny Pacquaio`s fight there drew the previous year. How do you stay focused with your popularity growing so rapidly? Honestly I put my focus and concentration on my boxing. I have to if I want to continue to be successful.
Surely by now you been told by someone that you’re the next Manny Pacquaio. Do you feel sometimes that your in his shadow? Not at all. He is own man and so am I.
Who was one of your favorite boxers as you were coming up? I would have to say Felix Trinidad. I really liked the way he could finish his opponents off.
Though you?ve fought 18 fights, you’re still a teenager. What`s it like fighting grown men there are sometimes five, ten, or more years older than you? Are you ever intimidated by it? Honestly I don`t feel intimidated at all. I really don`t even think about it. I just go in there and look to carry out the game plan I trained for.
Your upcoming opponent Geraldo Espinoza has fought undefeated highly ranked Jose Miguel Aguiniga, former world champions Mauricio Martinez and Cruz Carvajal, and current IBF bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez. Have you seen him fight before and does his major experience edge on you worry you? I saw footage of his last fight with Jose Miguel Aguiniga. Espinoza is a very strong fighter. I?m not worried about the experience edge he has on me because I?m well prepared for this fight and I feel I?m ready for this step up in competition.
Espinoza has 26 knockouts in 28 wins and it`s likely he`s going to test you to see if you can take his punch. Is his proven knockout power in the back of your mind. Well, to my knowledge there`s no chin strengthening training. (smiling) I`ve been hit with some hard shots during my professional career and took them well. I?ve put in a lot of hard training for this fight and I`m look forward to putting on a good performance come December 23rd at Sycuan.
