By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista displayed his awesome punching power when he battered WBA No. 8 super flyweight contender Hideyoshi Ishehara during a workout at the ALA Gym in Cebu, yesterday.
The hard-hitting Bautista mercilessly hammered Ishehara who is training at the ALA Gym in preparation for his WBA super flyweight title fight against champion Martin Castillo of Mexico. Ishehara and two other Japanese fighters, minimum weight Suguru Takizawa and bantamweight Akio Konichi are training at the famed ALA Gym which is regarded as one of the finest in Asia if not the world.
It was Bautista’s final day of sparring in preparation for his career defining showdown with Mexican hitman Gilberto Bolanos on June 11 in a blockbuster fight card dubbed "El Gran Combate – A Time for Revenge" at the air-conditioned Mandaue City Sports Complex. Bolanos is expected to arrive in Cebu today.
Sponsored by Tanduay, the No. 1 Rhum, the much-awaited showdown will be telecast on the top-rated Viva Sports boxing show "Main Event" at 1:00 p.m. on June 12 over RPN 9 with the stunning Viva Hot Babes as round girls.
