By Ronnie Nathanielsz

2003 "Trainer of the Year" Freddie Roach has warned WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista that Gilberto Bolanos who Bautista battles in blockbuster fight card in Mandaue City on June 11 is " a game and tough opponent who comes straight at you."

Roach who trained Bautista for a week at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles where the 18 year old Filipino sparred with IBF super bantamweight champion Israel Vasquez also warned Bautista to "watch out for his (Bolanos’) head as he frequently uses it to head-butt his opponent."

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Roach worked the corner when one of his prized fighters from the Wild Card Gym, North American Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Karen Harutyunyan, was stopped by Bolanos in the seventh round in Montebello, California last year. Harutyunyan was a sparring partner of Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Roach who was impressed by Bautista and predicted he would be the Philippines next world champion said "both Bautista and Bolanos pack a wallop and either one can end the fight with a single blow. The one with the better defense will come out the winner."

Roach picked Bautista who has a 15-0 record with 10 knockouts to win although he predicted a furious battle with the feared Mexican KO artist. Bolanos has a record of ten wins, all by KO and eight losses against top caliber, world-rated fighters.

While Bautista’s last title defense against highly-touted South African Vuyisile Bebe went the full twelve round distance, Roach believes that because of the style and the punching power of Bautista and Bolanos he doesn’t expect the fight to last more than five rounds.

The Bautista-Bolanos showdown titled "A Time For Revenge" will be telecast by Viva Sports on the top-rated weekly boxing show "Main Event" at 1:00 p.m. on June 12 over RPN 9 sponsored by Tanduay, the No. 1 Rhum. The stunningly attractive Viva Hot Babes who are Tanduay models, will spice up the evening as round girls in the main event.

There has been so much interest generated in the fight that WBO Asia Pacific vice president Leon Panoncillo and Las Vegas representative Michael Koncz are among the dignitaries who will be at ringside while reservations have also been made by a group of fight fans from South Korea, Australia and Singapore.