The celebrated ALA Boxing Gym stars led by the comebacking Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista can’t wait to light up the Big Dome with fireworks as they strut their punching skills in the keenly-awaited “Payback” fight card on December 2 at the cavernous Araneta Coliseum.
Bautista (23-0-1, 17KOs) will take centerstage in the main event as he defends his WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title against the dangerous Mexican hitman Antonio “Barrio” Meza (23-2, 16KOs) in a 12-round war.
This marks Bautista’s ring return since his devastating first-round knockout loss to WBO 122-pound titlist Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico in the Boxing World Cup last August 12 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
Five other ALA ring gems - AJ “Bazooka” Banal, Milan Melindo, Michael Domingo, Rocky Fuentes, and Joseph Omanz - will see action in the multi-million, three-championship extravaganza put up by Third Force Promotions under the marketing genius of former PBA commissioner Noli Eala and will be aired live on ABC-5 of mega-millionaire business tycoon Tony Boy Cojuangco.
Banal (15-0-1, 12KO1s), touted as the next big thing of Philippine boxing, will make the first defense of his WBO Youth super flyweight crown against Mexican hard-puncher Jovanny “Bambino” Soto (25-7-1, 20KOs). He won the WBO regional belt by a sensational first-round stoppage of Esau Gaona last September 30 at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel.
Likewise, the flashy Melindo (13-0, 4KOs) will risk his WBO Asia-Pacific minimumweight belt for the first time against Jack Amisa (17-3, 13KOs) of Indonesia. Melindo seized the WBO plum by decking Thai Nuapayak Sakkririn in the fourth round last October 6 at his hometown in Cagayan de Oro City.
In a special attraction of the slambang show co-presented by ALA Boxing Gym of revered sports patron Antonio “Bidoy” L. Aldeguer, RP bantamweight crown-holder Michael “Bruce Lee” Domingo (33-14-2, 13KOs) will slug it out with Tanzanian Anthony Mathias (19-7-1, 9KOs).
Reigning RP flyweight champion Fuentes (20-5-2, 12KOs) , on the other hand, will figure in a marquee match-up against RP second-ranked and current PBF 112-pound titlist Richie Mepranum (9-2-1, 2KOs) of Maasim, Sarangani Province.
Joseph Omanz (8-0, 4KOs) of Cabancalan, Mandaue City, for his part, hopes to keep his undefeated record intact when he tackles fellow Cebuano Albert Cesa of Omega Stable.
The rest of the bouts pit Jason Pagara of CDO’s Eronico Stable against Anton Olarte of Davao’s Willy Neri Stable and the unbeaten Bai Elorde of Elorde Stable versus Marron Sanchez of Cebu’s Omega Stable.