By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WORLD Boxing Organization Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista is now recovering from a high fever at the Cebu Doctors Hospital after he was rushed there Sunday evening and may have to forego his fight on the Mano-A-Mano undercard at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2.
Bautista, who was down with a fever some weeks ago and was forced to skip training, resumed workouts at the famed ALA Gym and even sparred a few rounds in an effort to catch up on his training for his crucial July 2 showdown against Mexico’s Alejandro Felix Montiel.
However, while working out at the Fight Club Gym on Sunday, he complained of a high fever and had to be rushed to the hospital.
His manager, respected Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer told Viva Sports/Standard Today that while Bautista had no fever yesterday, he was still coughing and a little weak.
Aldeguer said they would first get the doctor’s advice and then consult with Golden Boy Promotions Eric Gomez, who is scheduled to arrive shortly before making a final decision on Wednesday on whether to allow Bautista to fight or not.
Golden Boy Promotions, which handles both Bautista and OPBF super flyweight champion Z “The Dream” Gorres, had arranged for the Montiel fight and Aldeguer said he felt it was only proper that he consults Gomez before making a final decision.
At the moment, indications are that they would not risk Bautista’s world no.1 ranking and a great future by sending him into the ring against a veteran when he is not in top condition..
Meanwhile, super featherweight champion Jimrex Jaca has a new opponent for his fight on the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios undercard at the Araneta Cliseum, after his original Mexican opponent reportedly broke his hand in a workout.
Pacquiao’s close friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud burned the wires after learning of the mishap and was able to get veteran 32-year-old Hector Marquez as a replacement.
Marquez has fought some of the best in his career and has a ring record of 28-16 with 21 knockouts. Marquez, though, has lost his last four bouts, the latest being a 10-round unanimnous decision to Jorge Solis in Tacoma, Washington last Jan. 14.
