Boom Boom on the mend, vows return

MANILA, Philippines - WBO Intercontinental superbantamweight champion Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista is still recuperating from surgery to repair a fractured left wrist but ALA Gym owner Tony Aldeguer said yesterday he expects the hard-hitting brawler to return to the ring before the year ends.

In a startling disclosure, Aldeguer revealed that Bautista hurt his left hand even before he fought Mexico’s Daniel Ponce de Leon for the WBO 122-pound title two years ago and endured the pain in his next four fights until finally submitting to surgery.

“Boom Boom thought it was a slight sprain at first,” said Aldeguer. “We would only give Arcoxia. But after he fought (Heriberto) Ruiz last November, we took him for an X-ray and MRI. That’s when we discovered he had a fractured wrist.”

Dr. Tammy de la Rosa operated on Bautista after the fighter was diagnosed to be suffering a non-union of a fracture of the scaphoid in his left hand at the Manila Doctors Hospital last February. He underwent a bone graft and a screw was inserted in his wrist. Bautista is now taking rehabilitation therapy at the Perpetual Succour Hospital in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Aldeguer said Bautista will likely be ready to resume training in August. The plan is for Bautista, who hasn’t fought since losing an eight-round decision to Ruiz in Las Vegas, to stage a comeback in October or November. It will mean a one-year respite for Bautista.

Bautista, 22, is far from finished and Aldeguer said the Candijay, Bohol, fighter remains a prospect for a world championship. He was deemed too raw and inexperienced in losing to Ponce de Leon on a first round knockout in his only attempt to win a world title so far.

The loss to Ruiz was a shock as Bautista was heavily favored to repulse the Mexican veteran. But Bautista had no antidote for the crafty Mexican who scored a knockdown in the third round. Bautista was repeatedly butted by Ruiz and finished the bout bleeding from cuts on his forehead and above both eyes.

After losing to Ponce de Leon, Bautista won three in a row over Antonio Meza (W10), Genaro Camargo (KO2) and Eden Marquez (KO2) then bowed to Ruiz. Aldeguer said Bautista faced the five opponents with an injured wrist.

With his career temporarily on hold, Bautista has been dropped from the top 10 world ratings. His record of 26-2, with 19 KOs, is impressive but Bautista has to prove himself all over again in order to regain his once lofty position as a superbantamweight contender.

Aldeguer said Bautista is still under contract with Golden Boy Promotions as is ALA stablemate A. J. (Bazooka) Banal who has a 19-1-1 record, with 16 KOs. Banal, 20, is ranked No. 8 bantamweight by the WBA. He is also rated No. 6 by the IBF and No. 8 by the WBC as a superflyweight.

Another ALA fighter Z Gorres will soon sign up a promotional contract with Top Rank, announced Aldeguer. Gorres was previously promoted by Golden Boy.

“We are in the process of closing our negotiations with Top Rank who has expressed the desire to sign up Gorres,” said Aldeguer. “We are confident he will soon be fighting under Top Rank. We will wait for what Top Rank has in store for Gorres before we decide to send him to the US.”

Gorres, 27, has won all his four fights in the US so far, beating Glenn Donaire (KO1), Jose Tirado (W10), Pedro Miranda (W10) and Eric Ortiz (KO8). He is unbeaten in 18 of his last 19 outings. Last March, Gorres halted former world champion Roberto Leyva in Cebu for the vacant WBO Oriental bantamweight crown.

Gorres’ record is 29-2-2, with 16 KOs.

“Gorres is one of our most talented fighters although not very many appreciate his skills,” said Aldeguer. “It is notable to mention that he fought undisputed superflyweight champion Vic Darchinyan to a draw and almost knocked him out with a right hook in the second round. Only (Nonito) Donaire and Gorres have floored Darchinyan.”

Gorres was robbed of a split decision over Darchinyan when Filipino judge Jonathan Davis scored it 114-112 for the Australian while Thai judge Montol Suriyachand saw it 113-112 for the “Dream” and Australian judge Ces Perkins had it 113-all.

“Gorres has stopped two former world champions Ortiz and Leyva but his most outstanding accomplishment was outboxing another world champion Fernando Montiel only to lose by a controversial split decision when the referee ( New York ‘s Samuel Viruet) took two points away from him for clinching without warning,” added Aldeguer.