REY ?Boom-Boom? Bautista used to be one of the most promising prospects of Philippine boxing and was even projected as the boxer that would likely succeed Manny Pacquiao.
However, his successful 23-0 run was put to a screeching halt after suffering his first career defeat, a first round knockout, in the hands of Daniel Ponce de Leon, in a world title fight in 2007.
After making a comeback by winning his next three fights, Bautista once more went through another disappointing loss?a unanimous decision to veteran Heriberto Ruiz, the following year.
The career of the 24-year-old banger went from bad to worse as he hid an injury that had threatened to end his blossming career.
Bautista kept the pain of a fractured left wrist to himself for a year. When it was finally discovered, a rotten bone needed to be surgically removed and repaired.
Now fully-recovered, Bautista is eager to exorcise the demons that have riddled his once promising career.
He will begin by avenging his loss to 33-year-old Ruiz, an awaited rematch on June 11 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City.
Tough
??Boom-Boom? knows this will be the toughest fight since his injury and when we made the decision to bring back Ruiz, we were aware of the risks involved. But it is the only way to know if indeed ?Boom-Boom? is back,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, Bautista?s handler, told Sun.Star Cebu.
Aldeguer said in Bautista and Ruiz?s first encounter in 2008, Bautista was literally fighting with one hand because of the excruciating pain on his injured left wrist. It started to get injured in his sparring session dating back to his preparation for de Leon.
?I don?t think Ruiz will take Boom-Boom lightly. But he is just confident because he beat Boom-Boom easily the last time and he said he did not believe about the injury. He also knows beating Boom-Boom will give him a title shot. Just like what happened before,? said Aldeguer of Ruiz?s recent comment that he will beat Bautista in front of the latter?s home crowd.
Although Aldeguer believes that the Mexican will be in his best condition, this time around, Ruiz won?t be facing the Bautista that he fought and defeated more than two years ago.
?Rey will be able to use his left hand more, which is his main arsenal. He was not able to use it because of his injury. He can capitalize on Ruiz?s weakness if Rey pressures him with the jab,? said the young Cebuano promoter.
?He looks fine and he?s working hard on his jab and defense.?
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on June 01, 2011.
