Banal hurdles US debut with UD win over Rosas

Boholano ring sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista moved one step closer to fulfill his dream of becoming a world champion by pulling off a decisive unanimous decision win over the previously undefeated Sergio Manuel Medina of Argentina in their WBO super bantamweight elimimator underneath "The World Awaits" card yesterday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Thus, the 19-year-old Bautista earned a mandatory shot at WBO 122-pound champion Daniel Ponce de Leon in what is likely to be one of the main attractions of the planned World Cup of Boxing featuring Philippines vs. Mexico here.

After taking control of the first four rounds, Bautista was deducted a point for low blow in round five. The ALA Boxing Gym stalwart regained that point in the next round by scoring a flash knockdown when he caught an off-balanced Medina with a left uppercut.

Medina had his brightest moment in round seven when he landed a solid right hand to the face that sent Bautista wobbling against then ropes with rubbery legs. Although Bautista did not hit the canvass, referee Robert Byrd credited Medina for a knockdown when the Boholano kept on holding on the ropes to keep from going down.

The iron-willed Bautista survived the standing eight count, but Medina failed to go for the kill.

Bautista then showed great recuperative powers for the rest of the beat, peppering Medina with a variation of head and body shots. In the 11th round, the Filipino fighter dropped the Argentine with a big right hand, pompting the large throng of crowd at the grand ballroom of Cebu City Marriott Hotel to burst into frenzied celebration.

Although he did not follow up to finish off Medina, Bautista was way ahead on points.

Judges Dave Moretti and Paul Smith both scored 115-109, while Dave Moretti had it 116-108 all for Bautista, who stretched his unbeaten streak to 23 (17KOs). Medina suffered his first defeat in 29 fights that included 16 wins by stoppage. It was a double celebration for the ALA Boxing Gym stars, with AJ "Bazooka" Banal (13-0-1, 10KOs) making an impressive United States debut with an eight-round unanimous decision win over Mexican Juan Alberto Rosas (25-3, 22KOs). The official scores were 78-73, 78-73, 76-75.

Bautista and Banal’s triumph bolstered the chances of holding the historic World Cup of Boxing in Cebu on August 25 although nothing is definite yet as of the moment.

NOTES: The main event of "The World Awaits" card featuring Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand was attended by a sellout crown of 16,200...De la Hoya, the promoter of the box-office hit show, had a guaranteed purse of US$25 million and Mayweather US$10 million...The $19 million live gate was a record for the sport...Several sports luminaries and Hollywood celebrities watched one of boxing’s most richest fights. Among those spotted were Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jim Carey, Eva Longoria, Matthew McConaughey, Helen Mirren, Toby Maguire, Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Tom Jones, Mark Anthony, Denzel Washington, Shane Mosley, Thomas Hearns, Shane Mosley, Ron Howard and Wladimir Klitschko.