REY ?Boom-Boom? Bautista could finally get a rematch with Daniel Ponce de Leon, the guy who ended his aura of invincibility with a first-round knockout in 2007.
That is if he could hurdle another boxer who has the potential to knock the ALA boxer out.
Bautista, who was once called Manny Pacquiao?s heir apparent in the Philippines, will face knockout specialist Miguel Angel Mendoza, on Dec. 10 in ?Pinoy Pride 10? at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
If successful in his International Boxing Federation International featherweight title defense, Bautista could avenge his humiliating loss against de Leon or could even earn a possible crack against IBF featherweight champion Billy Dib, who defended his crown last Sunday with a first-round knockout of Alberto Servidei.
?For now, the focus is still on Mendoza. Dec. 10 will be crucial for ?Boom-Boom? to see if he is ready for Ponce de Leon and maybe for a world title fight with Dib,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said. ?Mendoza is a dangerous opponent and should not be taken lightly as he is undefeated with all of his 17 wins by knockout.?
US training
De Leon handed Bautista his first career loss in 2007 with a first-round stoppage in their World Boxing Organization super bantamweight title fight at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
Both de Leon and Dib are considered by ALA Promotions as possible opponents for Bautista.
?We hope to bring him to the US to train and hopefully to fight there. Then we will evaluate if he is ready for de Leon or for a world title fight. Boom-Boom still needs more fights due to his injury in the past years,? said Aldeguer.
Bautista is training at ALA Boxing Gym for one of the most crucial fights of his career. He also wants to prove his doubters wrong that he can take a punch from a heavy-handed opponent.
?He is doing very well. He is very focused as he knows Mendoza is dangerous and Boom-Boom wants to prove himself again,? said Aldeguer.
The 27-year-old Mendoza, 17-0-1 with 17 knockouts, is one of the hardest-hitters that Bautista has ever faced since his only knockout defeat over four years ago.
