Boom Boom to train in De la Hoya camp

Golden Boy Promotions vice president Eric Gomez confirmed yesterday that Boholano ring stars Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and Alex John "Bazooka" Banal will train alongside boxing great Oscar de la Hoya under celebrated American trainer Freddie Roach in Puerto Rico.

"This is great for Philippine boxing," said Team ALA top honco Antonio "Bidoy" Aldeguer.

Aldeguer said Gomez also informed him via phone call that De la Hoya will formally announce today that Bautista’s bout against Sergio Manuel Medina of Argentina is on.

Bautista (22-0, 17KOs) will take on Medina (28-0, 16KOs) in an official WBO super bantamweight eliminator under the card featuring De la Hoya’s WBC super welterweight title defense against pound-for-pound icon "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gomez earlier bared that there’s a big possibility that the Bautista-Medina rumble will serve as the supporting main event of the De la Hoya-Mayweather superfight that has already shattered all-time records in ticket sales.

The winner of the Bautista-Medina showdown will earn a mandatory shot at the WBO super bantamweight crown currently held by Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon.

Aside from Bautista, Banal is also scheduled to see action in the De la Hoya undercard against a still to be named opponent.

Aldeguer said Bautista and Banal, together with their trainer Edito "ALA" Villamor, will leave for the United States in the middle of March. They will then rendezvous with Roach and De la Hoya in Puerto Rico.

Bautista and Banal are both coming off sterling performances that impressed Gomez and revered international matchmaker Sampson "Picasso" Lewkowicz during last Saturday’s "Moment of Truth" card at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Bautista knocked out Mexican Marino Montiel Gonzales Jr. in round three to wrest the WBO Intercontinental and WBO Youth super bantamweight titles, while Banal (12-0-1, 10KOs) pulled off a smashing first round stoppage of Thai Komrit Lukkuongmuekol.