By Rey Danseco
World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champ Rey Bautista scored a sixth round technical knockout win against Mexican hitman, Gilberto Bolanos, Saturday in Mandaue City, Philippines.
The 18-year old champion from Candijay town in Bohol province improved his unblemished record to 16 wins with 11 knockouts.
After turning pro exactly three year ago on June 12, 2003, the victory was Bautista’s eight in a row with five via short routes in as many fights against foreign opponents in his young career since last year.
Making his first fight outside his country, the young Filipino phenom shamed former IBF Pan Pacific and Indonesian super-flyweight champ Hengky Wuwungan, who was coming off in 16 winning streaks, via 3rd round knockout in a televised bout from Jakarta throughout Indonesia in April 20, 2004.
He then earned a split but well received split decision over 10 rounds against two-time Korean champ Jong-wan Kim in Uijongbu, Korea and followed the impressive showings against Hirokatsu Yamazaki in Akashi, Japan and Saensak Singmanasak of Thailand to win his current regional title also in Mandaue City in just two rounds.
He needed two minutes, 58 second of the first round to stop Christian Casino of Indonesia in Tagbilaran City. Former South African champ Vuyisile Bebe gave him an experience when he earned a unanimous decision victory over 12 rounds to keep his crown for the first time and then he showed no mercy in a fifth round annihilation of another Thai Aree Phosuwangym at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii for his 7th win in a row against unfamiliar foreign foes in March before facing Bolanos.
Bautista’s regional title wasn’t at stake in the schedule 10-round fight against Bolanos, but his impressive victory will put him in more big fights.
Bautista’s manager Antonio Aldeguer of Cebu City said his WBO No. 3-ranked fighter would make another trip to the United States soon to train again under American trainer Freddie Roach in Hollywood, California and then find a fight schedule.
Bolanos, a 37-year old native of Ciudad Obregon in Mexico, suffered his back-to-back defeat at the hands of young Filipinos.
Bolanos failed to match the furies of punches and agility of former WBO Asia Pacific flyweight champ Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire in their 8-round bout to loss via nearly shutout unanimous decision at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California last November 11
