BOXING phenom Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista is not about to concede to his critics, who have called him a failure.

Bautista is revving up for a comeback of sorts as he takes on Antonio Meza of Mexico on December 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The young fighter from Bohol will use the bout to erase the stigma of his first-round loss to Daniel Ponce de Leon in the World Cup of Boxing last August.

Bautista stakes his 23-1 record and the fringe World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific super-bantamweight crown in his first fight since the ignominious loss.

Meza, 24, is no pushover. He sports a 23-2 record with 16 knockouts. 

“Hindi totoo na magretiro na ako dahil natalo ako,” Bautista said. “Sa ngayon, tuloy na ang ensayo ko at gusto kong makabawi kasi alam ko disappointed ang tao sa huli kong laban.”

Bautista’s loss was the only blemish in an otherwise perfect campaign by the Filipinos in the RP-Mexico card in August. Bautista, often criticized as soft despite being a power-puncher, fell via technical knockout to the stronger, more experienced de Leon.

“Natuto na tayo dun sa laban kay Ponce de Leon. Sa boksing, hindi lang puro lakas, kailangan din ng utak. Kaya ngayon babawi tayo. Pinaghahandaan ko talaga ito,” Bautista told the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Forum yesterday at Shakey’s United Nations Avenue.

Michael Aldeguer, president of ALA stable under which Bautista is connected, admitted the fight against Meza is going to say a lot on what the Bautista’s future.

“It’s a very crucial fight for him, especially coming off a loss against Ponce de Leon in his last outing,” stressed the son of Cebu boxing impresario Tony Aldeguer.

Serving as a major attraction to the card, where former Philippine Basketball Commissioner Noli Eala was designated project director, is the inclusion of teen sensation AJ “Bazooka” Banal. 

Banal, 18, takes on Jovanny Sotto of Mexico in a 10-rounder.

“It’s high time the big-city boxing fans get a taste of their prowess and explosiveness in no less than the Mecca of sports events in the Philippines, the Big Dome,” Eala said.

Michael Domingo fights Anthony Mathias of Africa as  part  of the six-fight undercard being prepared by Eala and company.

To hype the event, the boxers are set to make a mall visit the week leading to the fight, with the official weigh-in also to be held in one of the country’s leading shopping center.

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BOXING phenom Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista is not about to concede to his critics, who have called him a failure.

Bautista is revving up for a comeback of sorts as he takes on Antonio Meza of Mexico on December 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

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