Finally, somebody has stepped forward to trade leathers with the undefeated Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista.
The Candijay, Bohol native, acknowledged as the heir-apparent to superstar Manny Pacquiao, will be fighting Brazilian Super Bantamweight champion Giovanni "Bombardero" Andrade on the undercard of the September 18 rematch between Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
Golden Boy?s matchmaker par-excellence, Sampson Lewkowicz, has chosen the Brazilian warrior as a worthy opponent for the undefeated Bautista.
Andrade will replace Chile's Moises Gutierrez, who could not come into the fight due to visa problems.
Andrade comes into the fight with a pedigree, Brazil being a great source of boxing icons. The country has produced one the world?s best bantamweight champions ever--Eder Jofre-- and one of the best power hitter in the world of boxing, WBO Lightweight champion, Acelino Freitas, who incidentally hails from the same town where Andrade comes from in Bahia, Brazil.
A hard-nosed veteran of 60 fights, Andrade parades a fearsome 51-9 win-loss fight record with 41 knockouts. The tough-as-nails Brazilian has fought a virtual murderer's row like Johnny Tapia for the latter?s WBO Super Flyweight title, WBA Fedelatin champion Martin Honorio and WBA Super Bantam interim champion, Celestino Caballero.
?We have big plans for Boom-Boom,? says Lewkowicz through ALA Gym?s Sammy Gello-ani, ?but we are not rushing things.?
?Boom-Boom can learn much from Andrade because of his experience,? continues Lewkowicz, ?This will be a good testing ground for him (Boom-Boom) before he fights for a world title.?
The self-effacing Bautista will be putting at stake his unblemished record when he takes on the dangerous Andrade, although a win over the Brazilian will cement his possible crack at a world title.
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