Ramirez upbeat on beating Bautista in ‘Pinoy Pride XIX’ but ALA ring star out to make impression in Davao fightcard

DAVAO CITY , Philippines   - Mexican brawler Jose ‘Negro’ Ramirez (24-3, 17KOs) expressed confidence that he will come ut victorious over ALA Boxing Gym stalwart Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista (34-2, 25KOs) in their 12-round rumble for Bautista's WBO International featherweight title in the main event of the ‘Pinoy Pride XIX: Mexican Invasion’ fightcard tomorrow night at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) gymnasium here.

Ramirez said he holds Bautista with high respect, but he thinks that he has now a chance to be known in the boxing world by vanquishing the Filipino warrior.

“Come Saturday night, I will invade Davao by defeating Bautista and after that I will invade the world as I will be a world champion,” Ramirez boldly delcared during the event's final press conference yesterday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

As if to intimidate his foe, the 25-year-old Ramirez even bared that he got some advice from Bautista’s former tormentor Daniel Ponce de Leon on how to destroy the resurgent Boholano fighter.

“Daniel (Ponce de Leon) gave me some tips on how to beat Bautista and the thing I remembered most is when he told me that I should aim at his chin,” said the Mexican visitor.

Bautista suffered a devastating first round knockout loss to Ponce De Leon in his first world championship bout on August 11, 2007 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.

As the years pass by though, Bautista has slowly erased the sting of that heart-wrenching defeat.

And now that he is back on the right track, Bautista seeks no other than to make an impression against Ramirez, who poses as another major roadblock to his ultimate goal of getting another world title shot.

“This would be a great chance for me to once again show my skills. I prepared hard for this fight because I know he (Ramirez) is not an easy opponent. My only goal is to score an impressive victory,” said Bautista, who is on an eight-fight winning streak. “I will look for a knockout victory but if it will not happen, then I am ready to go for 12 rounds.”

Bautista will stake for the first time the WBO regional belt he seized via a 12-round split decision victory over Mexico's Daniel Ruiz on October 20 last year at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer said it's going to be a crucial match wherein Bautista is hard-pressed to win so as not to jeopardize their bigger plans for him.

“A lot is at stake for Boom Boom in this fight,” said Aldeguer. “His career depends on the result of this fight.  If he wins, then we will see. He could be fighting in a title eliminator this year either in the IBF or WBO.”

In the supporting main event of the biggest boxing show to hit Mindanao in 15 years, OPBF flyweight champion Rocky ‘Road Warrior’ Fuentes (34-6, 20KOs) will be put to a tough test against Mexican knockout artist Juan ‘Loquito’ Kantun (20-3, 15KOs).

In another highly-anticipated battle between two undefeated Filipino boxers, 'King' Arthur Villanueva (20-0, 11KOs) will put his OPBF super flyweight throne on the line against Marco Demecillo-Singwangcha of Rex "Wakee" Salud Stable (18-0-1, 14KOs). (FREEMAN)