Bautista-De Leon not yet final?

The WBO super bantamweight title showdown between defending champion Daniel Ponce de Leon and No.1 challenger Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, which is being lined up in the historic "World Cup of Boxing" featuring Philippines vs. Mexico on March 4 here in Cebu City, still hangs in the air.

On New Year's eve, international promoter Sammy Gello-ani announced in a press conference at Laguna Garden Cafe that Bautista will challenge De Leon in the multi-million extravaganza that will also feature Z "The Dream" Gorres against Fernando Montiel for the WBO super flyweight crown.

But Joe Hernandez, De Leon's trainer and adviser, told MaxBoxing.com that Golden Boy Promotions vice president Eric Gomez called him up last week and made an offer for De Leon to face Israel Vazquez in a unification bout in the undercard of Shane Mosley's February 10th HBO date at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Hernandez added that Gomez did not mention Bautista as De Leon's next opponent.

"Last week, Eric Gomez called, telling us that an offer for De Leon to face Israel Vazquez was in place, with the fight to take place on Mosley's February 10th HBO date at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas," said Hernandez in a report by MaxBoxing.com.

"But May 5th would be better to face Vazquez as it is the bigger fight date (De La Hoya-Mayweather). We are only waiting for the offer to be accepted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions (Vazquez' co-promoter) for either date. There's also the possibility of facing the WBO's number one challenger, Sergio Medina, if HBO approves that. No mention was made of the Filipino, Rey Bautista," added Hernandez.

For his part, De Leon said he is willing to battle Bautista if the price is right, but he would rather have the fight be held in the United States.

"If the pay is good, I would do it, but I'd rather have it made here (the U.S.) instead of the Philippines, as once again, the money is here. Gomez did not mention anything about Bautista or Caballero," said De Leon in the same internet report.

When sought for his comment on the finality of the Bautista-De Leon duel, Gello-ani answered:" As far as I know, the Bautista-De Leon fight is already in the works. I don't know if it's not yet final. We'll just wait for the official announcement from Golden Boy officials because they're the ones making the negotiations."