‘Boom Boom’ in back-to-back US bouts

Bantamweight contender Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista is in line for two US fights within 46 days and the busy schedule indicates Golden Boy Promotions is rushing a world title shot for the Candijay, Bohol, slugger sooner than later.

Bautista, 20, is booked to face Moises (Matador) Gutierrez in the undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera-Rocky Juarez main event for the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight crown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 16.

Then, he’s been advised by Golden Boy to prepare for another match against an undetermined opponent on Oct. 21.

Last March, Golden Boy signed up Bautista and ALA Gym stablemate Z Gorres to a promotional contract which stipulated two or three fights in the US before a renegotiation for a world title crack.

Bautista has fought only once since inking the Golden Boy pact, stopping Roberto Bonilla in the third round at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last May. After two more fights, the speculation is Bautista will challenge World Boxing Organization (WBO) superbantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico.

De Leon, who is also promoted by Golden Boy, has a 29-1 mark, with 27 KOs.

Bautista will leave for the US with trainer Edito Villamor and 17-year-old stablemate A. J. Banal on Aug. 10 to train at the Wild Card Gym under Freddie Roach.

ALA Gym owner Tony Aldeguer said Bautista’s constant exposure to US conditions has toughened him mentally for bouts against fighters of all races and backgrounds.

Aldeguer said Roach’s presence in the corner is a morale boost and adds to Bautista’s confidence. Wild Card strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, a former heavyweight fighter from Australia, is also a boost as he supervises Bautista’s physical preparation.

Aldeguer said he’s not worried that Bautista may be pressured by the publicity surrounding his campaign to become the next Manny Pacquiao.

"He’s young and still learning," said Aldeguer. "I don’t think he’s developed a big ego although he’s now a lot more outgoing than before. Because of his exposure to Americans, he sometimes answers in English when interviewed by reporters even in Tagalog. But that’s his way. It has nothing to do with his attitude in the gym or in the ring."

Bautista was penciled to fight Alejandro Montiel in the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios undercard at the Araneta Coliseum early this month but backed out after catching the flu.

Promoter Boy Cantada recently offered Bautista a P200,000 purse to take on rugged Bernabe Concepcion but was spurned by Aldeguer’s chief lieutenant Sammy Gello-ani.

"We appreciate Boy’s offer but Bautista has a schedule in Las Vegas and his purse is $15,000 aside from the TV rights," said Gello-ani.

Concepcion is an up-and-coming fighter who last February, floored China’s Wei Yang Jiang four times and sent him to the hospital after scoring a seventh round knockout in Shanghai.

Cantada is assembling a blockbuster card to feature two Philippine championship fights on Sept. 17 at the Joe Cantada Sports Center in Taguig. Flyweight titlist Sonny Boy Jaro stakes his crown against ALA Gym’s Aleng Denoy while minimumweight king Florante Condes—who has scored 13 KOs in 13 wins—will defend his title against a rated challenger. The card will be telecast live on "Fistorama."

Gutierrez, 27, has a 15-3 record, with six KOs, and turned pro in 1999 when Bautista was only 13. He has won five of his last six outings. The Chilean 122-pound champion has fought exclusively in his home country except when he lost a decision to Gabula Vabaza for the World Boxing Association Inter-Continental superbantamweight crown in Johannesburg last March.

The other major supporting bouts in the Barrera-Juarez undercard are WBO superfeatherweight chamion Jorge Barrios of Argentina against challenger and former WBO superbantamweight titleholder Joan (Little Tyson) Guzman of the Dominican Republic and World Boxing Council superbantamweight champion Israel Vazquez against WBO bantamweight titleholder Jhonny Gonzalez.

Bautista’s record is 20-0, with 15 KOs. He has figured in seven overseas fights so far. In his closest brush with tragedy, Bautista got up from a second round knockdown to pound out a unanimous eight-round decision over tough Gerardo Espinoza in California last December.