‘I’m ready for boxing comeback’

Former world title challenger Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista is excited about talks of his return to the boxing ring.

“I’m ready to return to the boxing ring,” said Bautista, who has a 34-3 (win-loss) record with 25 knockout wins. “I’ll show them that I’ll do everything to bring back my career in boxing.”

Bautista retired last April after losing to the visiting Mexican Jose Ramirez (25-3, 17 KOs) in the main event of Pinoy Pride 19 in Davao City via split decision.

But ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer announced that they are willing to give the hard-hitting Boholano boxer another chance to showcase his prowess.

Aldeguer talked about the possibility of Bautista’s return during last Monday’s launching of the Pinoy Pride XXIII: Filipinos Kontra Latinos.

According to Aldeguer, they convinced Bautista to retire because of personal problems the boxer was going through at that time which greatly affected his performance inside the ring. He was also concerned that the Boholano didn’t have the killer instinct he used to have and he didn’t want to jeopardize Bautista’s health.

“He went through a lot of problems and challenges that really drained him emotionally. I think his retirement gave him enough time to think about it and learn to become more mature and focused. I also think that his retirement is the turning point of his life in boxing,” Aldeguer said.

Aldeguer said even his father, Antonio L. Aldeguer, the founder of ALA Boxing Gym, also considered giving Bautista another chance to prove himself in the ring.

Should he return to boxing, Bautista said he wants to move into the heavier 130-pound (super featherweight) division instead of staying in the 126-pound featherweight class.

“If I stay at 126 pounds, I have to sacrifice a lot and it results to exhaustion,” Bautista said. “Instead of training for my opponent at that time, I was training to cut weight so it’s a huge sacrifice unlike moving up to 130 pounds, where I am more comfortable.”

Bautista said he is planning to start training for a comeback early next year.

Bautista’s first loss was in 2007 where he was knocked out in the first round by Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon for the WBO Super Bantamweight title. Bautista rebounded from that loss and snatched the WBO Intercontinental Super Bantamweight title beating three Mexicans along the way before losing to Heriberto Ruiz in 2008 in Las Vegas.

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