Rey Bautista to battle Colombian KO artist

ALA Stable teenage sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista will clash with Colombian knockout artist Felix Murillo in the undercard of the explosive "Double Trouble" slugfest headlined by Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican star Erik Morales on September 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

"The teenage phenom Bautista has been pitted by Top Rank against knockout artist Felix Flores-Murillo of Colombia in an eight-round supporting bout," Bautista's manager Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeguer relayed to The FREEMAN moments after Top Tank announced the complete card.

The blockbuster double-header features Pacquiao against Mexican Hector Velasquez and Morales opposite former USA Olympian Zahir Raheem. If Pacquiao and Morales both win, they will figure in an expected grudge rematch either in December this year or in January 2006.

"We're loaded with intriguing bouts leading to Erik and Manny's fights at Staples," said Top Rank big boss Bob Arum, who will make a formal announcement of the "Double Trouble" card in a press conference this morning at the Max's of Manila in Glendale.

Bautista, the reigning WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion, will make his maiden ring appearance in US mainland. He has already fought in Hawaii last March where he dismantled Thai Aree Phosuwangym in just two rounds at the Neal Blaisedell Arena.

The 19-year-old Bautista, who parades a frightening 16-0 win-loss record spiked with 12KOs since turning pro two years ago, is now currently in the thick of torrid preparation under the scrutinizing eyes of 2003 Trainer of the Year awardee Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Bautista, who hails from Candijay, Bohol, was initially scheduled to take on Mexican Samuel Lopez on August 19 at the Stockton Ballpark in Stockton, California, but his US agent Michael Koncz and Aldeguer cancelled it in favor of the more lucrative September date.



As published by Fightfax, the dangerous Colombian hitman carries a 13-4-1 win-loss-draw record, with 11 victories via stoppage.



Murillo lost in his last two fights though as posted by Boxrec.com. He was knocked out by by Marat Mazimbaev on September 10, 2004 in New Jersey and was disqualified by Referee Laurence Cole for excessive holding against Raul Martinez on November 4, 2004 in San Antonio, Texas.

Fil-Am Brian Viloria will also appear in the same card against WBC light flyweight champion Eric Ortiz in a 12-round title fight.

The other off-TV bouts include the hard-punching, never-beaten lightweight Urbano Antillo (15-0) of Maywood, California against Genaro Trazancos (21-7-1) of Mexico City and USA Olympian Vanes Martiroysan, who is handled by Shelly Finkel, against a still undisclosed opponent.