By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Tagbilaran City - WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista faces who trainer Edito "Ala" Villamor says "looks like a dangerous opponent" in hard-hitting Tanzanian Obote "Thunder" Ameme in a crucial title defense before an expected crowd of 20,000 proud Boholanos at the Carlos P. Garcia stadium on Saturday.
Thousands of Boholanos turned up at the pier yesterday and lined the route of a motorcade that took the fighters who rode in an open top vehicle for a courtesy call on Governor Erico Aumentado before they moved over to the office of Mayor Dan Neri Lim who has been the moving spirit behind the staging of the biggest boxing event in the history of Bohol.
American boxing man Michael Koncz who was instrumental in arranging the US debuts of Bautista, Bobby Pacquiao and Diosdado Gabi said he was "amazed how the Mayor is so enthusiastic and hands-on in this effort. This is fabulous and the people of Tagbilaran are so nice."
The motorcade was a "great experience" for Ameme who was never treated in this fashion in the past, according to nhis manager/trainer Emmanuel. But now the hard part begins as Ameme, after a morning workout was frantically looking for a weighing scale. That was caused by his trainer's concern after Ameme enjoyed a sumptous dinner at the Flamingo Restaurant of the beautiful Bohol Tropics Resort..
Bautista, on the other hand, checked in at the 118 pound limit when weighed this morning and according to Villamor is rearing to put on a show for his provincemates. Later in the day Bautista and Ameme were scheduled to spar two rounds against seperate opponents at the Islands City Mall.
Villamor showed some concern when referring to the KO record of Ameme who is credited with 22 knockouts in 27 wins and although shorter than Bautista reportedly packs a mean wallop. Villamor was worried that Bautista who is only 19 years old may want to please his hometown fans with an early knockout and may get careless.
Mayor Lim, determined to bring national focus to this charming province and the city of Tagbilaran has spared no effort in ensuring that the double championship blockbuster will be something to remember with all the trimmings of a Las Vegas boxing extravagana.
In a second title fight Tagbilaran City boxer Czar Amonsot will battle rugged, powerfully-built WBO Asia Pacific junior lightweight champion Victor Mausul of Indonesia. The manager of Mausul, former outstanding amateur champion Pino Bahari said the undefeated champion who has 8 wins, four by knockouts was in great shape and ready to defend his title against the flashy southpaw, Amonsot.
Viva Sports will telecast the double-championship bouts on its top-rated weekly boxing show The Main Event on Sunday at 1 p.m. over RPN 9 sponsored by Tanduay, the No. 1 Rhum and PLDT. Viva Hot Babes, Gwen Garcia and Zarah Lopez will add excitement to what already promises to be an entertainment spectacle.
