CHICAGO – Following his latest triumph in Tampa, Florida, I posed this question in one of my columns: Is Rey ?BoomBoom? Bautista ready for a title shot against Daniel Ponce De Leon?
Well, the response has been overwhelming. Due to space constraints, however, not all the e-mails could be accommodated. So here?s a few:
Pros
1. Stephen Gesalan (sbgesalan @yahoo.com): ?Yes,Rey is ready for a championship fight. He has determination and maturity. At age 20, Mike Tyson knocked out Trevor Berbick to win the heavyweight crown. Why can?t Bautista wrest the WBO superbantamweight title from Mexican Daniel Ponce De Leon by TKO?? 2. Troy Sun ([email protected]): ?I think BoomBoom is ready. He has the hunger, passion and determination to become the next Pacman.? 3. Jeremy Elape (ippo_ [email protected]): ?BoomBoom needs to improve on his defense, but since he has Freddie Roach on his corner, I think he?ll have a great chance of beating Daniel Ponce De Leon.? 4. Reynan Virtucio (westernlife.com): ?He?s ready for greatness. Heart plus skill plus power plus brains plus guts equals Rey ?BoomBoom? Bautista.? 5. Gian Origana (lycos.com): ?I think BoomBoom has the heart raring to go for any world championship. He may not be ripe after 21 fights, but Malcolm Tunacao won a WBC belt after just five pro fights.? 6. Liloy Auman of Astir Engineering Works, Inc: ?Before BoomBoom Bautista faced off Giovanni Andrade, I had doubts on his previously broken shoulder. After the fight, though, my doubts boomed out.
BoomBoom is more than ready to face Daniel Ponce De Leon.? 7. Michael Mangubat ([email protected]): ?I think he needs one more fight, probably one who has championship experience. But if Oscar Dela Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions gives him a chance to fight for a belt, Bautista should grab it. A championship fight will give BoomBoom experience and it will be good for his career in terms of money and exposure.?
Cons
1. Neil Papas (nlpapas@ yahoo.co.nz): ?I share with many observers that BoomBoom has what it takes to become a world champion. A little more polishing and he will become one.
There?s no question about his offense, but what about his defense? ?Let us remember that Giovanni Andrade was not rated in any world boxing body.
BoomBoom was not able to test his defense. My unsolicited advice to his handlers, especially Tony Aldeguer and GBP, is this: Let BoomBoom fight a world contender next, say Juan Manuel Lopez, before arranging a showdown with Ponce De Leon.
?Lopez is the young Puerto Rican southpaw (14-0, 12 KOs) who decisioned Gilbert Bolanos, whom Bautista kayoed in Mandaue City.
?Why rush BoomBoom??
