NASTY RUMORS have been going around boxing circles that Super Bantamweight sensation Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista was set to retire from boxing due to a bum shoulder.
Don’t believe it.
The fact is, the young 20-year-old from Candijay, Bohol is all set to go up against veteran Giovanni “Bombardeio” Andrade of Brazil (52W, 9L, 43KO’s) in Tampa Florida on Dec. 2.
Andrade is the same fighter he was supposed to take on last September when he sustained the shoulder injury which forced him to back out Bautista’s manager Tony Aldeguer stated in no uncertain terms that Bautista “is already in heavy training and has in fact started sparring last Tuesday.”
The man behind the highly-regarded ALA gym of Cebu and Tagbilaran assured that Boom-Boom is very much willing and able to continue his flourishing career and that the rumors were baseless.
Bautista, undefeated in 20 fights with 15 knockouts, is one of two Filipino boxers (the other is Z Gorres) to be signed up by the fast-growing Golden Boy Promotions of boxing icon Oscar de la Hoya.
Just a few weeks ago, Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao also inked a promotional contract with GBP.
A couple of unfortunate incidents the past few months conspired to prevent Bautista from pursuing two successive fights arranged for him by the US-based outfit.
First he was supposed to figure in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios fight at the Araneta Coliseum last July 2, but a few days before the fight, he was hospitalized due to a severe viral infection.
Another high-profile match was arranged for him by the De la Hoya group as part of the Marco Antonio Barrera-Rocky Juarez card last Sept. 16 when he strained his shoulder while training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym, forcing him to withdraw once again and come home to the Philippines where he immediately underwent treatment and therapy.
Aldeguer’s son Michael had previously informed Eric Gomez, vice president of Golden Boy promotions, that Bautista was leaving on Oct. 25 with ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor to resume training with the revered Freddie Roach.
Michael also informed him that they were awaiting the approval of the visas of Z “the Dream” Gorres and outstanding prospect AJ Banal so they could also train at Wild Card.
To which Gomez replied “Sure, bring the boys over” and confirmed Boom-Boom’s fight date with Andrade on Dec. 2.
