Boom Boom wants revenge

MANILA, Philippines - Fresh from demolishing Indonesia’s Maragin Marbun, newly crowned interim WBC International featherweight champion Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista said recently his dream is to avenge his first round knockout loss to Daniel Ponce de Leon and he’s even willing to face the Mexican in a rematch without pay.

But ALA Boxing Gym owner Tony Aldeguer said he’s holding Bautista back from rushing into a return bout against the former WBO superbantamweight champion who decisioned Gerry Peñalosa in 2007.

“Ponce de Leon is Boom Boom’s main target,” said Aldeguer. “Like Boom Boom, Ponce de Leon is now fighting as a featherweight. That’s Boom Boom’s dream – to avenge his defeat to Ponce de Leon whom he fought with pain in his left hand. He’s learned a lot since losing that fight. It’ll be a big deal to bring Ponce de Leon to Manila or Cebu for a fight but if we can get sponsors to support the promotion, I think it can be done.”

Another fighter in Bautista’s radar is Mexico’s Heriberto Ruiz, the only other fighter to beat him. Ruiz, 32, scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Bautista in Las Vegas last November. After the fight, Bautista revealed he felt pain in his left hand that was later found with a fractured scaphoid. He underwent surgery to repair the damage last February and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Tammy de los Reyes grafted a bone taken from the hip and inserted a screw in his left wrist during the delicate operation.

Ruiz has also moved to the featherweight division and is booked to face Jackson Asiku in Australia on Nov. 6. He’s coming off a third round knockout over Cristobal Teran in Sonora last June. Ruiz’ record is 42-8-2, with 24 KOs compared to Ponce de Leon’s mark of 37-2, with 31 KOs.

Aldeguer said he plans two more fights for Bautista before unleashing his fury on the likes of Ruiz or Ponce de Leon.

Bautista is pencilled to battle WBC International featherweight titleholder Rachamongkol Sor Pleonchit of Thailand in his next fight, which will likely be three months from now. Rachamongkol was supposed to be Bautista’s opponent at the Waterfront Hotel ballroom last Friday but the Thai backed out because of a training injury. Marbun was brought in as his replacement.

Rachamongkol, 26, won the vacant WBC International crown by stopping In Suk Song in Osan City, South Korea, last June. His record is 8-1, with five KOs. He was once halted by Filipino Ariel Delgado two years ago.

Bautista said he’s comfortable fighting at 126 pounds and while he’ll take on anyone his manager (Aldeguer’s son Michael) puts in front of him, he admitted a craving for Ruiz and Ponce de Leon.

“My confidence is back because my left hand is okay again,” said Bautista. “I’m not in a hurry for another world title fight. I’m still young (23). I just have to work hard in the gym. Discipline is important. I’ll fight anyone Sir Michael tells me to fight, anywhere, anytime. I’ll just wait for my time. Of course, I’m always thinking of Ruiz and Ponce de Leon because they’re the only ones who have beaten me. I want to pay them back for what they did to me.”

Against Marbun, Bautista used his left more than his right to set up the Indonesian for the kill. Marbun went down twice – once in the fourth round – before referee Bruce McTavish stepped in to halt the carnage at 1:25 of the seventh. Bautista did most of the damage with his left. But while he showed improvement in his stand-up defense holding both hands high, Bautista still had the tendency to leave himself open for counters when moving in. He finished the fight with cuts in the corner and under his right eye.

Bautista was ahead in the three judges’ scorecards when the fight was stopped. Teddy Alivio had it 59-55, Salven Lagumbay 58-55 and Edward Ligas 57-56. The win raised Bautista’s record to 27-2, with 20 KOs. The loss dropped Marbun’s mark to 19-6-1, with 7 KOs.

In the undercard, superflyweight Marjun Yap scored a technical knockout win when veteran Pramunsak Posuwan of Thailand retired with cramps in the left leg at the start of the 10th round. Yap, 20, led in two of the three judges scorecards at the time of Posuwan’s surrender. Ligas saw it 86-85 and Edgar Olalo, 87-84 for Yap while Lagumbay scored it 86-85 for the Thai. Posuwan, 40, is a two-time Olympian who once fought Jose (Carita) Lopez for the WBO 115-pound title.

In other tenners, lightweight Czar Amonsot pounded out a unanimous decision over Thailand-based Jesus Muzaka Singwancha of the Congo and another lightweight Jason Pagara beat Thailand’s Decha Kokiet-Gym also via a unanimous verdict.

Once hailed as Manny Pacquiao’s heir apparent, Bautista faces an uphill climb back to the top. He was the WBO’s No. 1 superbantamweight contender two years ago and fans thought he was Pacquiao’s second coming. But Bautista lost his focus with all the hype. He fought recklessly against Ponce de Leon and paid dearly for it. Bautista was too proud to disclose the pain in his left hand, a throbbing that came from sparring with Peñalosa in preparing for Ponce de Leon. He continued to fight, not wanting to let the fans down - and that, too, he paid for dearly.

Now, Bautista appears to have mellowed. He’s become more mature in his outlook. Bautista realizes he’s not Superman and certainly not in Pacquiao’s class - at least, for the moment. Trouncing Marbun convincingly was a big first step. Bautista has a long way to go before winning a world title with two major roadblocks looming as obstacles. The road blocks are personified by Ruiz and Ponce de Leon.