By Ronnie Nathanielsz

2003 “Trainer of the Year” Freddie Roach has praised the fighting heart of undefeated  19 year old WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista who got off the canvas following a knockdown late in the second round to come back and score a unanimous eight round decision over dangerous Mexican veteran Gerardo Espinoza at the Sycuan Casino in San Diego, California, Friday night.

In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today after the fight, Roach said “it was a very tough fight. He was hurt but Rey showed a lot of heart and came back. I think he lost two rounds and that two-point second round. He came back well and almost knocked the guy out in the end. Nothing but praise for the kid, getting down and coming back from a knockdown early in the fight.” Roach referred to the knockouts suffered by Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao early in his career and stressed that “sometimes we need those lessons along the way.”

Roach who trains Bautista in his Wild Card Gym when the Filipino is in Los Angeles said Bautista fought “a real game opponent with a lot of experience” and that he would “grow from there. It will make him a better fighter.” Roach said that compared to the opponents he demolished in the past en route to his 18-0, 14 KO’s fight record, Espinoza was a “step up in competition.” However, Roach said “we don’t want to rush him too much” although Bautista is ranked No. 1 by the WBO.

Bautista went down from a right straight after a torrid exchange in the opening round but recovered quickly and carried the fight to Espinoza whose punching power was obvious from his 26 knockouts in 29 wins.

But the Filipino youngster refused to back-off despite the knockdown and was the aggressor much of the time and had Espinoza on the verge of a knockout in the final round but  the Mexican’s experience saved him from going down.

All three judges scored the fight for Bautista. With Jose Cobian and Fritz Warner turning in cards of 76-75 and Pat Russell 77-74.

Business manager Michael Koncz who was instrumental in getting fights for Bautista, Manny Pacquiao’s younger brother Bobby Pacquiao and world-rated flyweight Diosdado Gabi whose career he now manages, said that although Bautista won” we have a lot to work on.” Koncz praised Bautista for “fighting with a lot of heart” and noted that when he started using the jab “he controlled the fight.” He said when Bautista hurt Espinoza in the final minute of the last round he “could have knocked him out” but the Mexican escaped by just  moving because Bautista “has to learn to cut the ring off.”

Koncz said “we know where he is at now but in my opinion he is obviously not ready for a world title shot of any kind” even as he indicated that the fight against Espinoza was “definitely the hardest fight he (Bautista) ever had.”

Koncz indicated that Bautista’s manager, respected Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, Filipino trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor who worked the corner with Roach and the members of Team Bautista were “proud of the fact that most people who get knocked down are afraid to get hit but Rey wasn’t. He still went after the guy and took chances once in a while. Obviously Bautista showed a lot of character. It was tremendous  from that aspect.”