By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista who impressed fight fans and promoters with his impressive unanimous decision victory over journeyman Gerardo Espinoza in San Diego last month is leaving for Los Angeles on Monday for another scheduled fight in the US.
Bautista's manager, respected Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer said American promoters wanted Bautista to fight in early February but he informed them he preferred a later date.
Bautista who leaves with promoter Sammy Gello-ani worked out at the famed ALA Gym on Friday and later told Viva Sports over dinner that he is ready to work hard and make the sacrifices necessary to become a world champion. The undefeated 19 year old returned to Cebu after visiting his parents in Candijay, Bohol and worked out shortly after his arrival.
Aldeguer said there was no word on the opponent of Bautista who would resume training at the Wild Card Gym of Ftreddie Roach next week along with stablemates Z "The Dream" Gorres, the world-rated No.1 OPBF contender and WBO Asia Pacific junior lightweight champion Czar Amonsot who will be featured in a Guilty Promotions fight card in Las Vegas on February 3. The fights will be telecast by Viva Sports.
Gorres will go up against Mexican Jose Alfredo Tirado who last September lost on a fourth round technical decision to WBC No.4 flyweight Diosdado Gabi after Gabi suffered a bad cut because of an accidental head-butt which forced the referee to call a halt and go to the scorecards.
Amonsot will battle another tough Mexican Antonio Wong who comes from the same Tijuana hometown as Erik "El Terrible" Morales and has a record of 7 knockouts in 11 wins with 5 losses.
Reports from Filipino trainer Edito "Ala" Villamor who is handling the two fighters while Freddie Roach concentrates on training Manny Pacquiao for his January 21 rematch with Morales said both Amonsot and Gorres have been very impressive in sparring. In fact before he left for the US Amonsot engaged WBC featherweight champion Injin Chi who is training at the ALA Gym in a furious sparring session and came out on top.
