Philippine Sports News and Updates

Trainer Freddie Roach said he expects Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista to be a better fighter, following his shocking first-round knockout at the hands of the menacing World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon in the Philippine-Mexico World Cup in Sacramento, California last Aug. 11.

Roach spoke to Viva Sports/Standard Today at a dinner hosted by boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, his wife Lou and the Aldeguer family at their wonderful home nestled on high ground that provides a panoramic view of Cebu City. The dinner was in honor of newly crowned WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa and the RP boxing team that whipped Mexico, 5-1.

“We are going to see if he [Bautista] really wants it because when somebody loses their first fight, they either fold up and go away or they train harder and come back and be a better fighter,” said Roach, who cited his own career when he was 10-0 and lost his 11th pro fight. “I was so mad, really angry and I won 17 straight after that because it made me a better fighter, it made me train harder.”

Roach also cited the case of Manny Pacquiao, who was knocked out in his 11th fight by Rustico Torrecampo, but came back to become the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today.

The two-time Trainer of the Year said the loss should make Bautista a better fighter because “you learn from your mistakes. He is still a very young man and has a bright future ahead of him if he chooses to go that route.”

Source: Manila Standard Today