TAMPA, Florida – Given the magnitude of tomorrow night?s fight, a brutal bloodbath that could help chart the course of his promising career, I was expecting Rey ?Boom-Boom? Bautista to manifest traces of trepidation, or perhaps even fear, in his actions.
But I saw no such manifestations when I met the prizefighter yesterday. In fact, Rey was so loose he exhibited the demeanor of concert pianist who is about to conquer the stage and captivate an adoring audience. A sort of been there, done that attitude.
Cocky? No, not by any stretch of the imagination. The 20-year old Boholano phenom is just confident, very sure of himself after a tough training camp where he trained like a maniac and logged over 120 sparring rounds
As he rested comfortably in his $319-a-night Hyatt Regency hotel room, sinking his 123-pound frame deep into the cushy bed, I asked Boom-Boom about his assignment tomorrow night at the St. Pete Times Forum.
As usual, Rey was unfailingly polite, shy as a rural dentist. He didn?t belittle his foe, and neither did he assign a specific round where he would take care of business.
He just flashed an effervescent smile, a knowing smile that made his face glow like the red embers in the tip of a lit cigar.
?I?ll do all I can to beat him,? he said in the vernacular.
Translated, it means Rey will put on a show. He will torture Giovanni Andrade with steady jabs and a two-fisted assault of wicked hooks, jarring straights and rippling overhands.
To all of you bloodthirsty fans out there, this simply means that you ought to put your butts in front of the TV set on Sunday morning or you will miss the fireworks. You can also choose to set your AM dial at 1512 and endure listening to me as I relay Bautista?s fight blow-by-blow via dyAB.
The officiall weigh-in is scheduled later today at the Hyatt?s ballroom, and judging on how well his handlers have looked after his diet and regimen, Bautista should easily make weight.
If he doesn?t, I?ll throw myself in front of a speeding car here in downtown Tampa.
By most accounts, Andrade is a tough customer. While waiting for Sammy Gello-ani at the hotel lobby yesterday afternoon, I overheard Andrade?s trainer explain how the Brazilian will ?hit and run? against Bautista.
That, of course, is a wonderful idea. But once Boom-Boom starts to hit with his loaded fists, I think Andrade will just keep on running. As fast and far as his feet will take him.
Andrade is experienced, but Bautista is too fast and too strong. Andrade is wily, but Bautista is too relentless. Andrade figures to be a smart 30-something, but Bautista is simply too determined to fail.
The weather is lovely here in Florida. The skies are clear, and so is my crystal ball. Boom-Boom by KO, inside six rounds.
