Bautista back in Cebu today

He's not yet a hero, nor a champion but Boholano boxing sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista (21-0, 16KOs) will surely get a warm reception as he arrives back in Cebu today coming off a dominating performance over Brazilian champion Giovanni Andrade.

Bautista looked very sharp in his ring return after seven months of inactivity, bombarding Andrade with powerful body shots to force the hapless Brazilian to throw in the towel at the start of the fourth round in a scheduled tenner last Sunday at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.

The WBO-ranked No.1 super bantamweight Bautista will arrive in Manila from Los Angeles this morning and will board the connecting flight to Cebu at 10:30 am. He will be accompanied by his trainer Edito "ALA" Villamor and international promoter Sammy Gello-ani.

A simple welcome back party and victory bash have been prepared by for Bautista this noon at the Magnolia Room of the Grand Convention of Cebu.

It was no less a grand comeback for the 20-year-old Bautista, whose previous two fights underneath big cards were cancelled.

Bautista withdrew from his match against Mexican Felix Alejandro Montiel in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios duel last July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum due to a viral infection.

Bautista then pulled out of his bout with Andrade underneath the Marco Antonio Barrera-Rocky Juarez rematch last September 16 in Las Vegas after he sustained a hairline fracture in his right collarbone during training.

A healthy and sturdy Bautista showed up last Sunday to regain lost glamour and prove he is worthy of his lofty billing as the next Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines.

Tomorrow, Bautista will go back to Bohol to spearhead a motorcade arranged by his avid patron and Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim.

Bautista will take a much-needed rest for a week or two in his hometown in Candijay before plunging back into rigid training in preparation for his future fight.

Bautista is likely to challenge next WBO jr featherweight Daniel Ponce de Leon, but Team ALA top honco Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeduer said they will consult first Boom Boom before making any decision.

"We will talk things over first with Boom Boom and ask what his thoughts are before making any decision," Aldeguer said.