Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista was once heralded as the future superstar of Philippine boxing and would-be world champion.
The pride of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, made a name for himself and created noise in the boxing world by going 23-0. Many thought of him then as “the next” Manny Pacquiao.
But everything seemed to be going downhill for him after absorbing a staggering first-round loss to Daniel Ponce de Leon in 2007 in his bid for a world title.
Following that defeat, it changed all the perception of him being the “next big thing” in Philippine boxingdom. His once glowing fisticuffs career turned shaky.
After a second defeat of his career against Heriberto Ruiz in 2008, he suffered a career-threatening hand injury. He then racked up eight straight wins, but he was never the same again.
In April last year, Bautista lost his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental featherweight title to rugged Mexican Jose Ramirez in Davao via a split decision.
Bautista is an explosive fighter always trying to knock an opponent out. Of his 34 wins, 25 were knockouts. But he’s often exposed, and can’t take a good punch.
Days before the fight, Ramirez said he knew Bautista has a weak chin. It didn’t take long for the Mexican to prove it when he sent the Filipino down in the last 18 seconds of the first round with a left hook. Bautista fell low and bounced against the ropes.
Count
The referee, Bruce McTavish, was too slow to stand in between and give Bautista the count. Ramirez hit him with a right, and Bautista went down again.
Bautista fought on for 11 hard rounds and the crowd held its breath. He caught Ramirez with good shots of his own, and looked ready to finish him off in the ninth.
A couple of times the Mexican went down, but they were ruled as slips. Bautista often clinched and at times grabbed Ramirez by the neck. Twice or thrice, he pushed the Mexican down to the floor.
Bautista was fighting for his life, and was doing everything to survive. He did last the distance. But the large home crowd did not like it. In the closing rounds, they started booing Bautista who was drenched in blood and sweat and cheering on Ramirez.
Chants of “Ra-mi-rez! Ra-mi-rez!” started to fill the air, even after the decision was announced. Bautista bowed his head after the verdict was announced, and the Mexican camp whooped it up.
That traumatic defeat left him contemplating on retirement and many feeling he was, indeed, ripe for retirement.
But after taking a much-needed breather, Bautista now wants to finally prove that he still has what it takes to become a world champion.
The former WBO super bantamweight title challenger is set to make a comeback and if negotiations push through, he may see action in a fight to be staged in the Middle East – in Dubai, United Arab Emirates – next month.
After a long heart-to-heart talk with ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, Bautista had made up his mind: he is fighting again.
His promoter is planning a comeback fight for him in the junior lightweight. He is taking him to the US to train there and bring him back to what he was before as a world caliber fighter. No, age hasn’t caught up with Bautista because at 27, he is younger than most champions in this brutal sport. It’s up to him to prove that he still has the heart to fight and become a champion.
