Bautista lowers boom on Mexican

World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista blasted Mexican Gilberto (Chiqui) Bolanos into submission before 6,000 howling fans at the jampacked Mandaue Sports Complex last Saturday night and delivered a strong message that he could be the next Manny Pacquiao.

Bautista, who turns 19 this Sunday, treated the fans to a display of firepower that Pacquiao is known for. He decked Bolanos with a vicious right uppercut in the third, opened a cut below Bolanos’ left eyebrow in the fourth and banged his body like a rag doll in the fifth.

The Mexican surrendered in his stool before the start of the sixth round, triggering wild cheers for the Candijay, Bohol, slugger who’s unquestionably now the darling of the Cebu boxing cognoscenti.

Bautista’s manager Tony Aldeguer described it a "spectacular" fight with no quarters given and taken.

"Bolanos told me Bautista is muy fuerte," said Aldeguer. "Clearly, Boom Boom was much stronger. In the fifth round, they went toe to toe like it was Bolanos’ last ditch attempt to score a knockout. He hit Boom Boom with two solid shots and his right cheek became swollen."

Aldeguer said Bautista’s merciless body attack took the starch out of Bolanos. "I thought Bolanos was groggy in the fifth," continued Aldeguer. "He was so weak because of the body punches that he couldn’t come out for the sixth round."

Aldeguer said Bautista, who celebrated his second year as a pro yesterday, still has a lot to learn.

"Exposure and maturity," he said. "Those are the things Boom Boom needs. He’s got a good future but he must have more experience. In the third round, he knocked down Bolanos but couldn’t finish him off. Nanggigil. That’s something he must work on, how to finish off an opponent who’s hurt without getting careless."

Aldeguer said the turnout was incredible.

"People were sitting on the railings," he said. "The coliseum was jampacked. We’re very happy about the crowd. Boom Boom has the charisma of a Pacquiao. I can’t explain his magic but it’s there. After the fight, the fans mobbed him. The fans come to watch his fights because they know Boom Boom is an all-action fighter. He’s such an exciting fighter. He may not be as talented or skillful as Z Gorres but you know when Boom Boom fights, you’ll be entertained."

Bolanos, trainer Rogelio Baldenegro and Philippine superfeatherweight champion Bobby Pacquiao leave for Los Angeles tonight. Pacquiao is set to face Carlos Navarro in a scheduled 12-round bout for the World Boxing Council Continental Americas 130-pound title in Friant, California, on June 17.

During a trip to the US a few months ago, Bautista sparred with world champions Israel Vasquez, Julio Diaz and Gerry Peñalosa at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

"Freddie (Roach) walked up to Boom Boom and told him, ‘I know you, you’re the next Filipino world champion,’" said Aldeguer. "Vasquez was bigger and stronger but Boom Boom didn’t back down in fighting him. Boom Boom even taunted Diaz, telling him to stop running so they could slug it out. Vasquez told him he’s strong, that he’ll be a world champion someday and not to change his attitude. He learned a lot from Gerry who is his father’s idol. Gerry’s very clever and is difficult to hit."

Bautista said it’s unfair to compare him with Pacquiao because their styles are different. Besides, Bautista added he’d like to improve on what Pacquiao does in the ring, like fighting on his backfoot and varying his attack, not just moving in with both fists flailing.

Aldeguer’s chief lieutenant and promoter Sammy Gello-ani said Bautista should be ready for a WBO title fight, possibly within the year or early the next. WBO bantamweight titlist Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand has asked for a $150,000 purse to stake his crown against Bautista in Cebu.