ALTHOUGH he has been criticized most of his career for not living up to people?s expectations, there is no denying that Rey ?Boom-Boom? Bautista brings excitement every time he steps inside the ring.
The 26-year-old hard-hitter is ready to earn fans in Davao City as he brings his exciting brand of boxing when he defends his World Boxing Organization (WBO) International featherweight title this Saturday night in the Pinoy Pride XIX ? ?Mexican Invasion? main event against Mexican Jose Ramirez.
?We are ready,? ALA Gym head coach Edito Villamor told Sun. Star Cebu yesterday.
?We have prepared well for this fight because if a Mexican comes here to the Philippines, they really come to fight. So whoever lands the knockout punch first will win.?
In his last fight, Bautista brought the house down in a 12-round brawl with Mexican Daniel Diaz last year at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Bautista, 34-2 with 25 knockouts, was in all sorts of trouble in his last fight but he held on and walked away with a tight split decision.
It will be different this time around against Ramirez, his coach said.
?He has improved a lot compared to his last fight at the MOA Arena. We have adjustments in his movement especially his jab and defense,? said Villamor.
Ramirez, 23-3 with four knockouts, tends to end fights swiftly, and 10 of his 15 knockouts didn?t go past the third round.
?We won?t be complacent in the first few rounds. We will see what his style is, if he is a slugger or if he is skillful. We can see this in the first to third rounds then we will adjust our game plan,? said Villamor.
Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight king Rocky Fuentes (34-6-2, 20 KOs) takes on Mexican Juan Kantun (20-3-3, 15 KOs) in the co-main event.
The biggest boxing show in Davao City also features the two Villanuevas.
Arthur Villanueva (20-0, 11 KOs) defends his OPBF super flyweight strap against fellow unbeaten prospect Marco Demecillo ?Singwangcha? (18-0-1, 14 KOs).
