Boom-Boom back on warpath, stops foe in 3rd

MANILA, Philippines - Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista, making a comeback after two disappointing losses that have virtually written him off, knocked out Mexican Alejandro Barrera in the third round at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu Saturday night and announced he is back on the road to a world crown.

“He’s back,” boxing manager Michael Aldeguer told a Cebu newspaper. “He worked hard in the gym and he showed that he still has it.”

Bautista showed power in his punches as he engaged Barrera in a brawl from the first round. The 28-year-old Filipino got the better of exchanges particularly in the third round where a strong blow to the body sent the 31-year-old Mexican to his knee.

Barrera beat referee Bruce McTavish’s count but no sooner had he regained his composure than Bautista connected with another powerful blow to the body. The Mexican was counted out 2:56 into the third round.

Bautista improved to 30-2 with 23 knockouts, while Barrera dropped to 21-5 with 14 knockouts.

In other bouts, Jason Pagara, 19, (25-1, 14 KOs) knocked out Indonesian Billy Sumba (18-2-1, 4 KOs) in 2:53 of the first round while ex-World Boxing Council flyweight champion Edrin Dapudong (21-3, 12 KOs) stopped Indonesian Sofyan Effendi 17 seconds into the seventh round. while Pan Asian Boxing Association bantamweight titlist Roli Gasca beat Joash Apericio by unanimous decision. The scores were, 77-74, 78-74, and, 78-73, for Gasca.

Ring clown Jun Intor put up a show for the fight fans, but he lost by majority decision to Albert Villacampa.