Injury-free Bautista knocks out Maratas in sparring

Boholano boxing sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista swiftly made an impact in his first public appearance since recovering from two unfortunate injuries, knocking out super bantamweight prospect Leon Maratas with a solid body punch in a sparring session the other night at the ALA Fight Club in Banilad Town Center.

The 20-year-old Bautista unleashed a powerful left uppercut to the paunch that outrightly sent Maratas wallowing in pain and gasping for air on the canvass midway in the second round.

"Maratas was so hurt that he complained of breathing difficulty after he went down. At that point, we decided to stop the sparring," said ALA Boxing Gym chief trainer Edito "ALA" Villamor.

Villamor, himself a revered ring icon during his prime, said Bautista also looked very sharp in an intense two-round scrimmage with former ALA mainstay Reman Salim and amateur standout Mark John Yap, who will turn pro next month under the super flyweight ranks.

"Bautista really has fully recovered from his injury. He already regained his confidence. He's ready and raring to return to the ring," said Villamor.

Bautista and Villamor will leave for Los Angeles, California on October 25 to undergo a torried training regimen at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood owned by celebrated American trainer Freddie Roach.

Bautista is gearing up for his December 2 showdown against Brazilian champion Giovanni "The Bomber" Andrade at the St. Peter Times Square in Tampa, Florida.

Bautista and Andrade were initially set to clash in the undercard of Marco Antonio Barrera-Rocky Juarez rematch last September 16 in Las Vegas, but Bautista pulled out of the bout for sustaining a hairline fracture in his right clavicle during training.