Boom Boom defends title vs Mexican

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  â€“ Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista will take it slowly but surely when he defends his WBO International featherweight title against Mexico’s Jose “Negro” Ramirez tonight at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym.

“Hindi ako mag-aapura (I will not hurry),” said the 26-year-old Filipino who tipped the scales yesterday at the SM City at exactly 126 lb. Ramirez was also on the dot during the official weigh-in.

“Maghihintay ako ng pagkakataon (I will wait for the opportunity),” added Bautista, on an eight-fight winning streak since losing to Heriberto Ruiz on points in 2008 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Of his last eight wins, Bautista has knocked out six opponents.

Bautista was once dubbed as the next Filipino boxing superstar, but all the expectations went down when he was knocked out by Daniel Ponce de Leon in the first round of their WBO super-bantamweight title clash in Sacramento, California in 2007. 

Bautista, who was undefeated when he faced De Leon, is trying hard to regain the status and a victory over Ramirez tonight could serve as another stepping stone toward a bigger fight.

During the weigh-in, Bautista (34-2-0 with 25 knockouts) stood face to face with Ramirez (24-2-0 with 15 KOs). 

But the Mexican camp said they noticed something in Bautista, and they will pounce on it when the fight, which headlines Pinoy Pride 19, takes place at the USeP Gym.

“Boom-Boom looked drained and he looked scared,” Miguel Martinez, the Mexican trainer, said after the weigh-in. 

Ramirez, one year younger than Bautista, said he will waste no time going after the Filipino’s head.

“I have seen his fight online. What I have seen in the (Daniel Ponce) de Leon fight is that you hit him in the jaw,” Ramirez said during Thursday’s press conference at the Royal Mandaya Hotel here.

But the Mexican said he’s ready for anything that might happen, and that includes a prolonged battle with Bautista. He said he trained hard for this fight and is ready to last 12 rounds.

In the main co-event, Rocky Fuentes will climb the ring against Mexico’s Juan Kantun in a flyweight contest scheduled for 10 rounds.