Three Kings in LA

LOS ANGELES — Still two days before Christmas, yet the Three Kings have already been sighted.

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Brian "Hawaiian Punch" Viloria and Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista — the kings of the ring that reigned at the Staples Center a few months ago, delivering a triple KO victory for the Philippines — are back in La-la-land to prepare for each of their upcoming matches.

"Mahirap nga pero sanay naman ako mag-Pasko doon sa amin na walang kinakain kaya sabi ko sa nanay ko, ‘Nanay, tiisan na lang natin ngayong Paskong ito kasi maghanap pa ako ng pera. Malungkot nga eh pero tiisin lang. Magkatipon-tipon din tayo," Boom-Boom (18-0 14 KO’s) said.

Among the three, the 19-year old boxer will be the first to fight, facing Gerardo "Locomotora" Espinoza (28-9 26 KO’s) in an 8-round bantamweight match on December 23rd, 2005 at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, CA.

"The reason why the team chose the opponent is we want to see where Rey is. This is a tough opponent. Like I said, the guy has nine losses. But those losses have come from former world champions, top five rated guys. So if he easily walks through this, then we’ll better know how to select our next opponent, maybe somebody from the top five of one of the divisions," said Michael Koncz, Boom-Boom’s business manager who arranged the fight.

Doubts have been raised by not a few boxing enthusiasts that perhaps the reason why Boom-Boom has been successful in his boxing campaign so far is that because he hasn’t encountered a really tough opponent yet.

In his US debut, Boom-Boom knocked out Colombian Felix Flores. The 31-year old fighter has not won in any of his last five bouts. Last month at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Philippines, Boom-Boom knocked out African featherweight Obote Ameme (27-10 22 KO’s) in a mandatory defense of his WBO Asia Pacific title.

For the non-believers, another KO from Boom-Boom may well be the last proof they need in order to be convinced that the young fighter from Bohol is on the right path to boxing greatness.

"He’s about a year or so away from a world title. But this fighter is going to get better and better as we go along. Of course he has to face different fighters first, especially here in America, they’re not going to let you fight just anybody," said Boom-Boom’s trainer, Freddie Roach who also trains Pacquiao and Viloria. "He works hard and I think he’s a future world champion. But we’re not there yet. We still got long ways to go."

According to Roach, one of the aspects his young ward still needs to improve on is mental toughness and strategy: "He needs to loosen up a little bit. He needs to set up the punches a little bit better, not just go out there and try to kill every guy. Just think a little bit more; maybe learn the same lessons as Manny."

Koncz added that despite the shortcomings, Boom-Boom has already matured a lot as a result of the fights he has gone through. But he’s also thankful that in terms of demeanor and attitude, "the kid" hasn’t changed at all.

"In my opinion, he’s still the humble, thankful 19-year old kid," he said.

And Roach agreed, "He really hasn’t changed so much. He’s still a young, shy kid who likes to fight and likes to hurt people. He has a baby face but he’s actually an assassin. I like that in a fighter. He likes to go out there and knock everybody out and so far he’s been successful doing that."

During his last sparring session at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood last December 16th, present to give him support were Roach, Koncz, Boom-Boom’s manager Tony Aldeguer and his trainer and former Philippine boxing champ Edito Villamor. Boom-Boom admitted that his team’s observations of him and his style were correct. And when it came to thinking before hitting, he said he was working on doing something about that.

"Yung pag-atake sa kalaban. Hindi na masyadong rush. May tinging na sa ano, kung ano’ng suntok, jab, pasok. Hindi katulad noon pasok lang diretso," he said.

In the same interview, Boom-Boom also did not make any effort to hide his thoughts on spending the holidays away from his family. But the hardworking pugilist was quick to add that he understood why he had to make these sacrifices. And if anything, these also help in toughening him up.

"Handang-handa na ako harapin ‘yung kalaban ko, para makauwi na tayo. Sabi ng nanay ko ngayon lang kami magkatipon-tipon na may kakainin tapos wala naman ako," Boom-Boom said, obviously fighting his homesickness which, according to Koncz, is Boom-Boom’s No. 1 enemy for now, perhaps next to the diet which he has to follow in order to lose weight.