Hard-hitting World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista remained unbeaten when he knocked out Aree Phosuwangym of Thailand in his United States debut Saturday at the 8,500-seat Blaisdell Arena in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii.
The teen fighter from ALA Gym in Cebu City caughed Phosuwangym with vicious right uppercut and solid left hook in the fifth of the scheduled 10-round clash to wrap up his 15th victory, no defeat with 11 knockouts.
“It took almost five minutes to revive Aree to conciousness and he was almost led out of the ring by the medical team on a stretcher,” said Antonio L. Aldeguer, manager of the Pinoy boxing phenom, in a text message after the bout.
Hawaii-based former World champions Ben Villaflor, Jesus Salud and Rolando Bohol, who incidentally handed over the trophy to the WBO No. 9 and WBC No. 25 contender Bautista, are proudly congratulated their fellow Filipino for the impressive outing.
Bautista, one of the Philippine’s rising boxing stars, started the bout tentatively when Phosuwanggym pressed the action in the opening bell.
“But Rey was able to turn the tide by dominating the 2nd to 4th round. He finally floored Aree on the 5th,” said Aldeguer, who is schedule to proceed today to Los Angeles, California with Bautista, colleague Sammy Gello-ani and trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor to watch two US-based Filipinos – welterweight Jerry Balagbagan and super-fly Vernie Torres – tangle with Mexican foes, Jose Juan Mendiola and Salvador Casillas respectively, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium on March 12 (Sunday in Manila).
It was the second defeat of Phosuwangym (8-3) to Filipino foe after he absorbed a unanimous decision loss to Paranaque City-based Rexon Flores for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight crown in Manila last year.
Villaflor, 52, a native of Negros, is a two-time WBA super-feather champ, Salud, 41, who hails from Sinait Ilocos, is ex-WBA super-bantam boss while Bohol, 38, from Manila, is one-time IBF flyweight king.
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