WBO sanctions Bautista-Medina bout

Undefeated Boholano boxing sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista of Cebu's famed ALA Boxing Gym gained an added inspiration to beat Sergio Manuel Medina of Argentina as the World Boxing Organization has sanctioned their upcoming match as an official WBO eliminator.

Bautista (22-0, 17KOs) will face the similarly unbeaten Medina (28-0, 16KOs) in the undercard of the Oscar de la Hoya-Floyd Mayweather superfight on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, will the winner earning a mandatory shot at the WBO super bantamweight crown currently held by Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon.

In a report by philboxing.com, the WBO has already informed De Leon, who just defended his title with a lopsided 12-round shutout of Filipino Gerry Peñalosa, to stake his belt next against the mandatory challenger.

Bautista, together with fellow Boholano sensation AJ "Bazooka" Banal, are currently in deep training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California in preparation for their respective fights underneath the De la Hoya card.

Team ALA manager Michael P. Aldeguer said Golden Boy Promotions vice president Eric Gomez told him that the Bautista-Medina rumble will open the first of the three fights that will broadcast around the world on pay-per-view basis.

Banal, on the other hand, will figure in a 10-round duel against a still undetermined opponent.

ALA Boxing Gym and SGG Promotions of international boxingman Sammy Gello-ani are negotiating at the moment with ABS-CBN to include the fight of Banal in their coverage of the blockbuster Las Vegas show.

The other day, Bautista and Banal showed their fitness and readiness when they sparred impressively at the world-renowned sweat shop owned by the decorated American trainer Freddie Roach.

Boom Boom went six rounds with two sparmates in Mike Franco and the unbeaten Alejandro Perez, while Banal sparred for six rounds against another Mexican Speedy Gonzales.

"They've been impressive in their sparring. They are both in top condition," stated ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor via e-mail.

Bautista and Banal are set to leave for Puerto Rico anytime next week to put up the final phase of their training alongside De la Hoya and Roach.

If Bautista gets past Medina, the De Leon-Bautista championship bout will likely headline the planned Boxing World Cup between the Philippines and Mexico later this year either in Cebu City or at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila.

The other possible World Cup pairings as earlier indicated by Golden Boy Promotions feature the rematch between WBC super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel and Z "The Dream" Gorres, WBO bantamweight titlist against Peñalosa and the defending WBO mini-flyweight champion Hugo Cazares against Bert Batawang.