By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao whose devastating punching power and indomitable courage have endeared him to boxing fans around the world is impressed by the courage of 19 year old Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista.
Pacquiao watched the undefeated WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion’s fight against power-punching Mexican veteran Gerardo Espinoza on television in Los Angeles and saw Bautista get up from a stinging second round knockdown to fight back and batter his opponent who was on the verge of a knockout in the eighth and final round.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today Pacquiao said Bautista recovered quickly from the knockdown during a furious exchange, adding “this kid is courageous..” Pacquiao said he is looking forward to Bautista “following in my footsteps so I have someone alongside me.”
Pacquiao said he believes Bautista has a great deal of potential but is “still a young man” and indicated he should not be matched against fighters who are too tough for him at this stage of his career.
Pacquiao also disclosed that he had arranged a fight for former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa in Los Angeles on January 20, one day before his much-awaited rematch with Erik “El Terrible” Morales but couldn’t remember the name of Penalosa’s Mexican opponent. Pacquiao said that “after this fight I will negotiate for a title fight against Rafael Marquez” the reigning IBF bantamweight champion and brother of featherweight Juan Manuel Marquez who held Pacquiao to a controversial draw two years ago.
Penalosa who scored an impressive ten round decision over Paraguayan bantamweight champion Dario Azuaga earlier this month is back in training after a four day rest and was in the gym even on Christmas day indicating he is determined to once again become a world champion.
