By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista returns home from Los Angeles this morning aboard a Philippine Airlines flight to a warm early morning welcome.
Bautista’s manager, respected Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today he was staying behind with trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor until later this week so he could make sure that two of his other promising fighters Z “The Dream” Gorres and Czar Amonsot settle down and begin stepped-up preparations for their scheduled appearance in a February 3 fight card in Las Vegas.
Aldeguer will also attend to plans for another US fight for Bautista which is part of a two-fight deal that business manager Michael Koncz worked out with Top Rank. The first was Bautista’s clash with hard-hitting veteran Gerardo Espinoza which the undefeated 19 year old Bautista won by a unanimous decision after being stunned by a second round knockdown.
According to Aldeguer, popular Tagbilaran City sportsman, Mayor Dan Neri Lim who promoted the blockbuster fight card in which Bautista retained his title with a second round annihilation of hapless Tanazanian Obote “Thunder”Ameme will be among the welcomers at the airport along with promoter Sammy Gello-ani. Aldeguer also disclosed that Bautista would pay a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, a staunch supporter of boxing who was also at ringside for “Bakbakan sa Tagbilaran.”
Bautista who complained of being homesick will leave for Bohol on Tuesday for a brief visit with his parents before returning to Cebu to resume training for his next fight.
Gello-ani indicated that Aldeguer and he have tentatively discussed an exciting double-header at the Araneta Coliseum featuring Bautista and Gorres with the No. 1 OPBF super flyweight battling Thailand’s Waenpetch Chuwatana for the title and Bautista defending his WBO Asia Pacific title. Aldeguer has made it clear that despite Bautista being ranked No.1 by the WBO he believes the youngster should not be rushed into a title fight since he still has a lot to learn.
