VICTORY MOMENTS. Boholano boxers
Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ "Bazooka"
Banal make history in local sports as they both grabbed
the title during WBO bouts held at Las Vegas, Nevada,
USA last Sunday. |
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Fresh
from their triumphs in Las Vegas, Rey "Boom Boom"
Bautista and AJ "Bazooka" Banal will be arriving
here Friday for a grand welcome prepared by Gov. Erico
Aumentado and City Mayor Dan Lim.
Bautista
and Banal will be met at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport (NAIA) by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Mayor
Lim early Friday morning.
Upon
their arrival here, there will be a victory motorcade
from the City Airport for Bautista and Banal along the
city's main streets.
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Both
Boholano ring icons will be brought to the City Hall for a
short program and press conference where Mayor Lim will also
be hosting lunch together with ALA Boxing owner and manager
Antonio Lopez Aldeguer.
Bautista,
an adopted son of Tagbilaran City, has requested to go around
the city's 15 barangays in a caravan and is also set to hit
the malls as a way of expressing his gratitude for the prayers
and support given to him.
Meanwhile,
Banal is also slated to be accorded a victory parade by Corella
Mayor Vito Rapal in their hometown.
During
an interview over dyRD's "Inyong Alagad" last Monday,
both Aumentado and Lim expressed elation over the victory
of the Boholano boxers which has undoubtedly brought Bohol
into the international scene.
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The
governor congratulated Bautista and Banal saying the
two successful boxers should be an example and inspiration
for Boholanos.
For
his part, Mayor Lim said the twin victories of Bautista
and Banal is a source of pride for Tagbilaranons and
Boholanos who have been giving their support.
It
can be recalled in last Sunday's fight that famed ring
announcer Michael Buffer tagged Bautista as "pride
of Tagbilaran, Bohol". The Dela Hoya-Mayweather
fight card was billed as one of the top grosser in boxing
history in terms of crowd attendance and pay-per-view
subscriptions.
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WHAT'S
NEXT FOR BOOM-BOOM
The
12-round unanimous decision victory over Sergio Medina of
Argentina paved the way for the hard-hitting Rey "Boom
Boom" Bautista to challenge WBO superbantamweight
champion Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico in the main event
of Golden Boy Promotions‚ second World Cup which is slated
either in Cebu or Manila in early September this year.
"I
will win the title," said Bautista in the dressing room
after defeating Medina whom he dropped twice. "I will
prepare even harder for Ponce de Leon than Medina. I'm going
for the championship."
ALA
stable owner Tony Aldeguer said Golden Boy Promotions' Oscar
de la Hoya plans to visit the country soon and survey possible
sites for the dual meet between the Philippines and Mexico
with the $500,000 diamond-studded trophy at stake. The trophy
is currently deposited in a bank in Cebu City.
Aldeguer
said at least three world title bouts will be featured in
the World Cup. Aside from Ponce de Leon staking his crown
against Bautista, WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez
is penciled to face veteran Gerry Peñalosa and WBO
superflyweight titleholder Fernando Montiel will meet challenger
Z Gorres in a grudge rematch. A possible fourth championship
fight could pit WBO lightflyweight ruler Hugo Cazares of Mexico
against Cebu southpaw Bert Batawang.
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