TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL?Even though Genaro Garcia is a far cry from what he used to look in his years as a world title challenger, Rey ?Boom-Boom? Bautista still isn?t taking him for granted tonight in their 10-round fight at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex.
?I won?t take any chances,? Bautista said in yesterday?s weigh-in for ?Pinoy Pride 12 ? Bakbakan sa Bohol? at the Island City Mall. ?I won?t predict what round I will knock him out.?
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Bautista?s trainer, Edito Villamor, believes that the key to a successful offense for Bautista is to use his left jab to open up combinations.
?We won?t take any chances. ?Boom-Boom? has to use his jab. This fighter is far better than the last one,? said Villamor.
Garcia failed to make the 128-pound limit and tipped the scales at 132, while the 25-year-old Bautista easily made weight at 127 ? pounds. Because the 34-year-old Garcia failed to make weight, he will be donning 12-ounce gloves instead of eight-ounce gloves.
Bautista is 32-2 with 24 knockouts, while Garcia is 38-8 with 22 knockouts.
Undefeated up-and-comer Genesis Servania (16-0, 6 KOs) is facing another experienced opponent in Nick Otieno (21-7, 9 KOs) in a 10-round fight.
Jason Pagara (27-2, 16 KOs) locks horns with Indonesian lightweight champion Frans Yarangga (10-1-1, 10 KOs) in an attempt to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss to Mexican Rosbel Montoya last year.
Grizzled veteran Michael Domingo (43-16-2, 22 KOs) is fighting one of the most important fights of his career against battle-scarred journeyman Marvin Tampus (27-14-2, 18 KOs).
?This will be a great fight because he (Tampus) is a warrior,? said the 32-year-old Domingo.
Domingo has seen some ups and downs in his career and has even been deprived of a shot at a world title fight a couple of times. A win could change the direction of Domingo?s diminishing career and earn him an important bout in Ghana against former world champion Joseph Agbeko on May 26 for the vacant International Boxing Organization bantamweight crown, in which a win could be the key to a world title fight.
Unbeaten prospect Mark Acub (5-0, 4 KOs) faces off with Freddie Martinez (10-6-1, 5 KOs); Juren Laborado (1-0, 1 KO) tests his mettle against Boholano Junel Busano (1-5-1); Jimmy Paypa (5-2) takes on Roy Roy Sumugat (8-6-2, 2 KOs); Rey Morales (1-0) trades leathers with Cebuano Jordan Catubay (1-0); and hometown fighter Pedro Balaba (4-3) defends his turf against Cebuano Jerome Casas (3-2-1).
