Gallant fight back Bautista survives second round knockdown to outpoint Mexican hard-puncher

In an awesome display of courage and will power, ALA teenage sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista survived a second round knockdown to beat Mexican hard-puncher Gerardo "Locomotora" Espinoza by unanimous decision in their eight-round encounter on Christmas eve at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon, California.

Before Bautista slumped into the canvass for the first time in his career, the reigning WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion from Candijay, Bohol caught Espinoza with a solid right straight that staggered the Mexican with 43 seconds remaining in the second round.

As Bautista charged in for the kill, Espinoza, showing the vast experience he got out of fighting former world champions in the past, sneaked in a vicious counter right straight then followed it up with a jab-straight combination that sent the Boholano boxer kissing the mat.

With rubbery legs, the WBO ranked No.1 118-pounder Bautista was able to stand up but he was hurt so badly that he ended walking to the wrong corner after the bell rang.

After a competitive third round, Bautista wobbled Espinoza with hard shots in the fourth round and in the fifth, he went forward and landed effective blows to the head and body that baffled his Mexican foe.

The 19-year-old Bautista, heading ended the fight strong by clobbering Espinoza ferociously in round 8.

Flashing a remarkable recuperative power, Bautista went on to earn the nod of the three judges. José Cobián and Fritz Warner both scored the bout 76-75, while Pat Russell had it 77-74, all for Boom Boom.

"This is the hardest fight of my career," Bautista stated after the bout.

With the meaningful victory, Bautista stretched his undefeated record to 19-0 with 14KOs, while Espinoza dropped to 28-10 with 26KOs.

It was Bautista's third consecutive victory in the United States this year alone, his second straight in the US maindland afer his masterful third round destruction of Colombian Felix Flores Murillo last September 20 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

For his fighting spirit, Bautista earned words of praise and adulation from no less than Filipino sport hero Manny Pacquiao.

"This kid is courageous. I'm looking forward to Bautista to follow in my footsteps so I have someone alongside me," Pacquiao said in a report by boxingscene.com.

Meanwhile, Bautista and his trainer Edito "ALA" Villamor will stay in the US as Bautista will probably take on another fight against a top caliber foe in February. Their manager, Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeguer is set to return to the country early next year.