Bautista quits

Due to his recent struggles inside the ring, the mercurial Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista has decided to hang his boxing gloves for good.

This was revealed yesterday by ALA Boxing Promotions President Michael Aldeguer who said he and ALA Gym founder Antonio Aldeguer came up with the decision after Bautista lost to Mexican Jose Ramirez (25-3, 17 KOs) last Saturday in the main event of Pinoy Pride 19 in Davao City.

Bautista, 26, did not attend yesterday’s presscon.

“We have no excuses, there is no more reason for him to continue. He tried his best but it wasn’t good enough,” said Michael Aldeguer.

Aldeguer also revealed that talks of retiring Bautista started as early as last year when the Boholano slugger struggled against Daniel Ruiz whom he beat via decision in Manila. “We saw that he can’t pull the trigger anymore, he won via close decision against Ruiz at that time,” he added.

Judges Salven Lagumbay and Danrex Tapdasan both scored last Saturday’s fight 114-111 for Ramirez, while judge Edward Ligas had Bautista winning, 114-111.

For his 10-year boxing career, Bautista has logged 34 wins with 25 knock-outs against only three losses. Those three setbacks however, were considered crucial.

PAINFUL LOSSES

His first loss was the most painful for Bautista after he was knocked out in the first round by Mexican toughie Daniel Ponce de Leon for the WBO Super Bantamweight title in 2007.

Bautista rebounded from that loss and snatched the WBO Intercontinental Super Bantamweight title beating three Mexicans along the way before he lost to Heriberto Ruiz in 2008 in Las Vegas.

For Michael Aldeguer, Bautista’s toughness as a boxer is beyond doubt. He remembered his ward winning a tough fight despite a rotten bone on his left wrist which required major surgery and almost a year of rehabilitation.

“It’s good that he quit while he is still healthy,” said Aldeguer. “Retiring is the best option for Boom-Boom, he already went through a lot emotionally and physically. I just hope that the public will still embrace him as a champion,” Aldeguer said of his often misunderstood ward.

Aldeguer bared that Bautista already has a business and enough savings to ensure the future of his family and child.

He also recalled when Bautista first came to Cebu from the mountains of Candijay, Bohol to become a pro boxer.

“It was Christmas eve when we saw Boom-Boom crying because he missed his family and I was really touched by his story. He has to sell firewood just to help out his family and I can say that he is the poorest boxer in our stable,” said Aldeguer.