Mexican pug dethrones Bautista

Aldeguer believes it’s  time for Boom Boom to retire;   Fuentes, Villanueva  prevail

by Rene Bonsubre Jr.

Correspondent

Davao City Jose Ramirez of Mexico shocked Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista with a knockdown in the opening round and went on to beat the ALA Gym star boxer by split decision in their WBO international featherweight title fight last Saturday at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) gymnasium.

A short left hook from the Mexican followed by a right sent Bautista crashing down in the first round. Ramirez, who said before the fight that he would go for Bautista’s jaw, failed to finish the job but still came out the winner.

Judge Edward Ligas scored it 114-111 for Bautista while judges Salven Lagumbay and Danrex Tapdasan both scored it 114-111 for Ramirez.

More than losing his WBO international featherweight belt, the loss may have also sent Bautista into retirement.

Promoter Michael Aldeguer told Cebu Daily News that this fight was a gauge as to whether Bautista still has what it takes to fight for a title.

“There comes a time in a boxer’s career that he can no longer improve,” Aldeguer said. “Based on this fight, Boom Boom cannot fight the bigger guns in his division. He also cannot move up because he is too small to fight at 130 lbs.”

“Even if he had won this fight, Boom Boom should retire,” ALA Gym patriarch Antonio Aldeguer said.

Bautista fired back after the first-round knockout and tried to land a power shot that would have changed the complexion of the fight. But Ramirez hung tough and Bautista was an easy target, his offense often predictable.

Bautista suffers his third loss and dropped to 34W (25 KOs)-3L. Ramirez improved to 25W (15 KOs)-3L.

Fuentes retains

OPBF belt

Meanwhile, Rocky Fuentes beat Juan Kantun of Mexico by unanimous decision.

Fuentes was more accurate with his delivery in the later stages of the fight and won handily 98-88 in all three judges’ cards.

Arthur Villanueva of the ALA Gym handed Marco Demecillo Singwangcha of the RWS Gym his first career loss and retained his OPBF super flyweight title by unanimous decision.

Villanueva’s lateral movement gave him the better angles to fire scoring blows and won by scores of 118-109, 119-108 and 119-108.

Mark Vincent Bernaldez fired blistering combinations and knocked out Indonesian Arief “Ice” Blader in the second round.

Referee Tony Pesons reached the ten count at 1:20 mark of the round.

Bernaldez remained unbeaten at 10W-0L, 6 KOs while Blader dropped to his tenth loss for a 17W (6KOs)-10L-1D record.

Engelbert Moralde battered Abel Gayhun and won a lopsided unanimous decision verdict while John Vincent Moralde beat down Juvel Gayhun with scores of 59-54, 58-55 and 59-54.

Kim Galon knocked out Joselito Tabago in the second round while Jessie Suacasa beat Glendon Ramos by unanimous decision