Boom Boom's vindication

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – Boom Boom Bautista exorcised the biggest ghost of his career, and proved worthy of another attempt at a world title late Saturday night, dispatching a previously undefeated Miguel Angel Mendoza in a shocking and emotional win at the Hoops Dome here.

Bautista had been suffering from the weight of unmet expectations and the harsh reality of fighting in Cebu for the last three years. In November of 2008, Bautista suffered an emotional crippling loss to Heriberto Ruiz which he seemingly took forever to recover from. He was fighting in so much pain that he was in tears. It was only after the fight that an undetected and therefore, undiagnosed wrist bone fragment was found floating around his right wrist. It was only his second loss, and he has won all four of his fights since then, excluding this last one.

“I’ve won so many fights (31 before facing Mendoza), but everyone only remembers that loss,” Bautista says.

Boom Boom, the part-time jeepney driver, scored four knockout wins since then, but was never able to exorcise that demon. It ate him up inside. Finally, in June, he was given a rematch with Ruiz, his ghost of defeats past. Wearing down his opponent, Bautista built a solid lead. But Ruiz was clinching and grabbing, and eventually, their heads clashed. Blood spurted from the side of Bautista’s head. The fight was stopped in the seventh round. The crowd booed. Bautista needed stitches, and was dejected.

This time, at the massive 12,000-seat Hoops Dome, Bautista was facing an unknown quantity, Miguel Angel Mendoza, for his IBF International featherweight belt. Mendoza was undefeated in 17 fights, winning all by knockout, never getting past the first round. In his first flight from his home in Aguascalientes, he leapt straight into hot water.

The crowd was buzzing after three successive wins by Filipinos over foreigners in the undercard. Shockingly, Bautista hardly threw a punch in the opening minute, as the cocky Mendoza pounded away at him, often hitting his gloves, but occasionally sneaking in the uppercut. The crowd was aghast. Then, with only his fourth punch of the fight, Boom Boom popped “El Terry” right on the button, and sent him to the seat of his pants.

Mendoza shook it off, then went on the attack again. Boom Boom sent him back to the canvas; the crowd was hysterical. They started going toe-to-toe. Mendoza had an ugly deep gash over his left eye, blood spattering over his trunks and immaculately white shoes.

A couple of rounds later, a low blow by Bautista caused Mendoza to crumple to the canvas. Replays revealed it was just below the beltline, but Mendoza’s camp played it up. His corner told hm to stay down for a couple more minutes. He was breathing heavily from all the punches he had been throwing, most of them misses. 

After the fourth round, referee Danrex Tapdasan checked on Mendoza’s eye, and one of the Mexican cornermen yelled at him. Tapdasan promptly tossed the irate visitor. A couple of Mexican fans screamed bloody murder.

In the sixth round, Bautista started hammering back. Mendoza was wilting. After a minute, Mendoza went down. Tapdasan started what was a rather quick count, surprisingly. The Mexican was taking his time getting up. At the count of nine, he was almost on his feet, then was quickly counted out. The Mexican camp went ballistic, but the decision stood.

“I wanted to show I was more mature, more patient,” Bautista said, satisfied with the win. “I got hurt, but I want t prove I can be a world champion.”

And now, he can sleep peacefully at night, having won back the affection of a discerning Cebuano audience, and the world.