Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista gets his first test as a newly-minted Golden Boy boxer by facing former world title Roberto Bonilla of Nicaragua in a 10-round non-title fight on May 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
The 19-year Bautista, who recently signed a promotional deal with boxing icon Oscar dela Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions, will have his hands full against the 31-year-old Bonilla who has a record of 23 wins, 14 KOs and seven losses.
Bonilla is coming off a 7th round TKO loss to Panamanian Celestino Caballero last February in Panama City in a 12-round World Boxing Association (WBA) superflyweight interim title fight.
Previous to that, Bonilla fought several topnotch fighters that include Ricardo Vargas, Joel Luna Zarate and ex-world champs Luis Perez and Adonis Rivas.
Bautista’s last outing was in December of last year in Sycuan Resort and Casino of California, outpointing Mexican Gerardo Espinoza in their 8-round encounter.
The win was the most impressive by far for the Candijay native Bautista as he won the bout after coming back from a flash knockdown in the 2nd round.
Prior to that, Bautista reigned as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion which he defended twice.
This time however, Bautista will be officially campaigning in the tough superbantamweight division that was previously ruled by current Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao.
The bout will happen beneath the 12-round WBC superfeatherweight title fight between defending champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico and ex-Olympian Ricardo ‘Rocky’ Juarez.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s Mexican challenger Oscar Larios will set up his training camp in Japan.
Larios, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) superbantamweight champion, is set to get support from top Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda.
Larios defended his WBC 122-lb crown several times in Japan against highly-rated Japanese fighters.
The Pacquiao-Larios 12-round fight will happen in July 2 in Manila, with the WBC International superfeatherweight crown of the Filipino star at stake.
