By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Freddie Roach, the 2003 “Trainer of the Year” who has won the hearts of Filipino boxing fans because of his ties to Manny Pacquiao, believes that Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista is “a great prospect.”
In an interview with Viva Sports at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Roach who trains Bautista along with Pacquiao and light flyweight contender Brian Viloria said the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion “potentially can be the next world champion from the Philippines.”
The 19 year old Bautista who is undefeated in 16 fights with 11 knockouts is slated to make his US debut against Mexico’s Carlos Flores Murillo in an eight round bout on Top Rank’s “Double Trouble” card which features Pacquiao and Erik “El Terrible” Morales against different opponents.
Commenting on reports that Murillo was a “dirty fighter” Roach said Bautista “is just going to have to experience this” although he conceded he wouldn’t consider Murillo a dirty fighter but rather “more physical, rough.” He emphasized that “you are run into fighters like this from Mexico and its something Bautista is going to learn to accept.”
Roach admitted that Bautista has “a little bit of a mean streak too. He’ll know how to handle it.” He said Pacquiao in contrast was “too passive whereas Bautista, if you foul him, he’ll get back at you.” Roach added that while “everything is coming together
now” Bautista is still “very young and has a lot to learn.”
