By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The comeback fight of WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista in a blockbuster card being lined up for the Araneta Coliseum in the first week of December will be against Fedecentro bantamweight champion Jesus "Chito" Rios of Mexico.
Rios has a record of 24-3-1 with 18 knockouts and is reported to be a slambang slugger who is bound to test Bautista’s ability to comeback from a stunning first round knockout at the hands of the menacing WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon last August 11.
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach attributed Bautista’s loss to his eagerness to win by a KO and to trade punches early in the fight which was not in keeping with the instructions of Roach and Filipino trainer Edito "Ala" Villamor.
Roach has said he is confident Bautista can return and once again emerge as a world title contender but it all depends on him.
Meantime, undefeated super flyweight prospect AJ "Bazooka" Banal who is also being lined up to display his prowess on the Araneta card will fight a dangerous Mexican in Jovanny "Bambino" Soto, the reigning WBC Fecombox, WBA Fedecentro and Mexican super flyweight champion.
Soto has a record of 20 knockouts in 25 wins with 7 losses and 1 draw and is regarded as a dangerous foe with power in both hands.
