Pacquiao Impressed By Bautista's Courage

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao whose devastating punching power and indomitable courage have endeared him to boxing fans around the world is impressed by the courage of 19 year old Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista. [details]

[Manny_P]

Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao whose devastating punching power and indomitable courage have endeared him to boxing fans around the world is impressed by the courage of 19 year old Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista.

Pacquiao watched the undefeated WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion’s fight against power-punching Mexican veteran Gerardo Espinoza on television in Los Angeles and saw Bautista get up from a stinging second round knockdown to fight back and batter his opponent who was on the verge of a knockout in the eighth and final round.

In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today Pacquiao said Bautista recovered quickly from the knockdown during a furious exchange, adding “this kid is courageous..” Pacquiao said he is looking forward to Bautista “following in my footsteps so I have someone alongside me.”

Pacquiao said he believes Bautista has a great deal of potential but is “still a young man” and indicated he should not be matched against fighters who are too tough for him at this stage of his career.

Pacquiao also disclosed that he had arranged a fight for former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa in Los Angeles on January 20, one day before his much-awaited rematch with Erik “El Terrible” Morales but couldn’t remember the name of Penalosa’s Mexican opponent. Pacquiao said that “after this fight I will negotiate for a title fight against Rafael Marquez” the reigning IBF bantamweight champion and brother of featherweight Juan Manuel Marquez who held Pacquiao to a controversial draw two years ago.

Penalosa who scored an impressive ten round decision over Paraguayan bantamweight champion Dario Azuaga earlier this month is back in training after a four day rest and was in the gym even on Christmas day indicating he is determined to once again become a world champion.

[Manny_P]

awesome shyt!!!! Manny Pacquiao thinks like me. I also think that Bautista should fight easier opponents fo a bit before stepping up to bigga things. He needs to work on his skills, confidence and all that.

Penalosa hopefully gets a shot at Marquez. It'll give a him a BIG payday win or lose. I root fo him definitely, but Marquez is the best at that weight.

[grayfist]

After one or two confidence re-building tune-ups, I think Rey can set his sights on WBC champ Vladimir Sidorenko, who won the title after winning by UD over Julio Zarate in a toss-up for the vacant title, in February this year.

The transplanted Ukrainian recently successfully defended in his adoptive country, Germany, against Jose de Jesus Lopez (UD) last November.

He has a record of 18-0 with only 6 KOs.

There's just one problem. Rey would have to fly to Germany. Sirodenko does not appear interested in making his passport active. He has fought only twice, outside of Germany: once in Poland and once in his native Ukraine! Both in 2003.

If Bautista does win against Sirodenko, then he can begin to think of a unification match with Rafa. There'll be a lot more $$$$ in that for him.