Pressure on Boom-Boom

by Neil Bravo
The pressure has fallen on the broad shoulders of Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista.
The spotlight fall on the 25-year old Filipino World Boxing Organization (WBO) international featherweight champion from Candijay, Bohol after the string of losses suffered by Filipino fighters in the ring—from junior lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao, to superflyweight titlist Brian Viloria and superbantamweight champ Nonito Donaire.
Bautista, now trimmer and leaner than he was three weeks ago, admitted yesterday that he is pressured to break the latest boxing funk.
“I’m pressured. Mas mahirap dahil kailangan manalo ako,” Bautista said during yesterday’s press conference at the Kapehan sa PIA at SM City Davao’s Atrium.
Bautista will be fighting Mexico’s Jose “Negro” Ramirez for the WBO belt on Saturday at the University of Southeastern Philippine (Usep) Gym in what is touted as the biggest
Boxing card in Davao City after the 2003 Pacquiao fight that saw the Filipino superstar deck Thai opponent Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym.
Ramirez, who has a record of 24 wins against 3 losses with 15 knockouts, is reportedly getting tips from former Bautista conqueror and countryman Daniel Ponce de Leon.
“Isusunod ko si Ponce De Leon, hindi ako takot kay Ramirez,” Bautista, who totes a ring record of 34 wins and 2 losses with 25 abbreviated wins, boldly said.
Bautista watched Donaire lose to Cuban fighter Guillermo Rigondeaux in 12 rounds on Sunday. Donaire is the third Pinoy champion to fall by the wayside in a string of losses suffered by the Philippines since Pacquiao lost twice last year to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Also appearing with Bautista were Rocky “The Road Warrior” Fuentes who will take on another Mexican in Juan “Loquito” Kantun, and King Arthur Villanueva who will battle another Pinoy boxer Marco Demecillo.
Meantime, Ramirez arrived in Davao late yesterday afternoon with Miguel Obeso via a Cebu Pacific flight. Ramirez will hold a press conference tomorrow at the Park Inn by Radisson.