Boom Boom foe getting tips from Ponce De Leon

By Neil Bravo
Filipino WBO international featherweight champion Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista is a well-scouted fighter, his next Mexican foe made sure of that.
Jose “Negro” Ramirez has bared in an interview with philboxing.com that he has seen videos of Bautista’s previous fights and asked tips from his countrymen who has fought the hard-punching Filipino champion.
Ramirez, who totes a 24 win, 3-loss record with 15 wins inside the distance, will be fighting Bautista on April 20 at the USEP Gym in Davao for the Filipino’s world title in the “Pinoy Pride XIX” card.
Interviewed by Philboxing contributor Miguel Lopez, Ramirez said he has learned some vital inputs from current WBC featherweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon who knocked out Bautista in the first round on August 11, 2007. The Mexicali native also learned a few things from his stablemate Antonio Meza who lost a unanimous verdict to Bautista on December 2, 2007 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Sí, he visto videos de Bautista, y también mi compañero estable Antonio Meza ha boxeo contra Bautista en el pasado. También hablé con Daniel Ponce De León recientemente aquí en Mexicali y ofreció sus consejos sobre cómo golpear a Bautista. Me mostró la debilidad de Bautista y cómo conseguir un knockout (Yes I have seen videos of Bautista, and also my stable mate Antonio Meza who has fought Bautista in the past. I also talked to Daniel Ponce Deleon recently here in Mexicali and he offered his advice on how to beat Bautista. He showed me the weakness of Bautista and how to get a knockout),” Ramirez said in Spanish during the overseas interview.
Ramirez claims he has 17 knockout wins, not 15. He hopes to place Bautista’s name in that list of knockout victims. His impressive record includes 5 wins coming in the first round and nine going inside four.
Ramirez, who will be planing in on April 15 or five days before the fight, is excited to come to the Philippines in his first fight outside Mexico.
“La verdad, siii estoy motivado! (The truth is, I’m very motivated!),” Ramirez said.
Ramirez bared that he has since trained three months for the fight under the watchful eyes of trainer Francisco Martinez.
“Soy sparring con Mundo del Campeones Abner Mares, Hugo Ruiz (hermano de Heriberto Ruiz, antes ganar contra Bautista) y Antonio Meza (opositor pasado de Bautista que perdió por UD Heriberto Ruiz (I have sparred with World Champions Abner Mares, Hugo Ruiz (brother of Heriberto Ruiz who had beaten Bautista in the past) and Antonio Meza (past opponent of Bautista who lost by UD),” he added.
He is wary of the possibility of a hometown decision that is why he is motivated to go for a convincing win. He promised to bring the title when he returns to Mexico.
“Sí, me dijeron que por mucha gente que es difícil obtener una decisión en las Filipinas que me hace más decidido a ganar (Yes, I was told by many people that it is hard to get a decision in the Philippines that makes me more determined to win),” Ramirez said.
Asked if he will go for the knockout, Ramirez said if the opportunity comes, he will go for it.
“He entrenado a ir doce asaltos y si el nocaut llega, entonces sucede (I have trained to go twelve rounds and if the knockout comes, then it happens),” Ramirez said.