By Ronnie Nathanielsz
 
The recovery of emerging ring sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista from a hairline fracture of the collarbone has been amazing according to orthopedic specialist Dr. Agustin Morales of Cebu.
 
Respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer who has nurtured the career of the undefeated Bautista said he was told by Dr. Morales that the injury suffered in a freak accident while Bautista was shadow boxing at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach had healed really well.
 
Aldeguer said Bautista was given the go signal to resume sparring and that everything was normal. The former WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion who relinquished the title to move up to super bantamweight is scheduled to battle Brazilian champion Giovanni Andrade at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on December 2.
 
The undefeated Bautista sparred with featherweight Leon Maratas but will soon take on tougher sparring partners in order to be ready when he flies to Los Angeles on October 25 to step up preparations at the Wild Card Gym.
 
Bautista who has a ring record of 20-0 with 15 knockouts will face a crucial test against the veteran Andrade who boasts of a 52-9, 43 KO slate. In his last fight on August 25 Andrade decked Sixto Vera Espinola twice in the second and twice in the third round before Espinola quit at the start of the fourth.
 
Bautista’s last fight was on May 20 when he demolished Roberto Bonilla in three rounds in a fight card at the Staples Center. Bonilla is the same fighter who was knocked out in the fourth round by former WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios last October 6.