by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista is determined to win impressively when he goes after Indonesia ’s tough Marangin “Dinamita” Marbun in a battle for the vacant WBC International featherweight title that was once held by the greatest Filipino fighter of all-time, Manny Pacquiao.
This doesn’t put more pressure in the 23 year old Bautista who is coming off an eleven month layoff after surgery to replace a fractured and rotten bone in his left wrist with a piece of bone from his hip that was grafted.
The fight card will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN over Studio 23 beginning at 10:30 p.m. with a "live" broadcast to Thailand beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the fight of Jason Pagara.
Rey 'Boom-Boom' Bautista, who is headlining the event, stepped in at 125.75 lbs for his first venture into the featherweight division. He said he was “more comfortable and felt stronger” at the 126 pound limit.
His opponent Marangin Marbun of Indonesia came at the 124.5 lbs and is coming off an eight-fight winning streak and has vowed to win by a knockout in the tenth round.
While Bautista and Marbun stared at each other for the cameras, southpaw Czar Amonsot who weighed in at 133 lbs and his opponent Jesus Muzaka Singwacha of Thailand who is originally from the Congo taunted each other and were on the verge of an early exchange of blows to the delight of the huge crowd at the SM Entertainment Center who roared in approval. The two came in at 132 lbs for their 10-round super featherweight battle.
Young and exciting Jason Pagara tipped the scales at 135 lbs while rugged and menacing-looking Decha Kokietgym of Thailand stepped was two pounds heavier at 137 lbs for their 10-round lightweight contest.
Young prospect Mark John Yap came weighed in at 114.75 lbs for his first big challenge against former world title challenger Pramuansak Ponsuwan of Thailand weighed in at 115.5 lbs for their 10-round supe flyweight battle
Posuwan lost in a battle for the vacant super flyweight title to Puerto Rico’s Jose “Carita” Lopez who in turn lost his title in his first defense against “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona last September 4 in Ontario, Canada.
Meantime, Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani said Sonsona will arrive in Cebu on Monday to continue training for his first title defense. Both Gello-ani and elite trainer Nonito Donaire Sr told us “there are too many distractions in Manila ” where Sonsona was training after his plan to train in Baguio City was aborted because of the bad weather and resulting landslides.
