Bohol eager to promote Bautista's next defense

Taking pride for the impressive debut of its prized boxer Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista in the US mainland the other day, the provincial government of Bohol has expressed its ardent desire to promote the ALA teenage sensation's next defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific bantamweight title. The 19-year-old Bautista successfully took off to international stardom when the Candijay, Bohol fighter scored a smashing third round knockout of Colombian Felix Flores Murillo in the undercard of last Sunday's "Double Trouble" card before a roaring crowd of 10,684 at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

In that Top Rank card, the Filipino fighters completed a remarkably clean sweep over their Latino rivals, with the revered ring icon Manny Pacquiao pounding out Mexican Hector Velasquez in six rounds to win the WBC International super featherweight title and Brian Viloria dethroning Eric Ortiz via first round knockout to emerge as the new WBC light flyweight champion.

Boxing patron Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeguer, Bautista's manager, said he got a call yesterday morning from Bohol Provincial Board member and Bohol Sports Commission chairman Dionisio D. Balite conveying their intent to put up Bautista's title defense in Bohol before the year ends.

"I got a call this morning (yesterday) from provincial board member Balite. He told me that the provincial government of Bohol is very interested to promote Bautista's next title defense," said Aldeguer.

"The province of Bohol has been very supportive to Bautista. I would be glad to allow Bautista to defend his title in Bohol this November if ever he is not booked for any fight in the US at that time," said Aldeguer.

Bautista won the WBO regional belt after scoring a brutal second round stoppage of Thai Saensak Singmanassak on August 17 last year at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex. He won in his first and only defense so far via unanimous decision against South African Vuyisile Bebe early this year.

Aside from the local government officials of Bohol, Aldeguer said he received a deluge of congratulatory messages from friends here and abroad because of Bautista's stellar performance.

"I got several congratulatory messages from my friends here and abroad, specially in the US. The reponse was really fantastic and overwhelming," said an elated Aldeguer. Among those who congratulated Aldeguer for a job well done by Bautista were WBF president Mick Croucher and Indoensian promoter Eric Piri.

Aldeguer said though he was not surprised by the manner Bautista handled such a glamorous fight before a bigtime crowd at a glitzy venue.

"The good thing is that he fought the fight. He was not awed by the big thing. That is because he's been programmed very well. He's been trained for that thing," said Aldeguer.

Before his maiden ring appearance in the US mainland, Bautista has already fought in Hawaii, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan in just his two-year pro career.

Bautista, who stretched his unbeaten streak to 17-0 now loaded with 13 knockouts since entering the pro backyard in June 2003, is expected to arrive in Manila at 5:30 pm tomorrow together with his trainer Edito "ALA" Villamor.

"Actually our US agent Michael Koncz wanted Bautista to stay in the US and book him for another fight this October, but Bautista wanted to go home because he's feeling homesick," said Aldeguer.