Bautista stakes WBO Int’l title tonight

REY “Boom Boom“ Bautista tries to slay the ghost of 2007 when he stakes his WBO International featherweight title against dangerous Jose “Negro” Ramirez of Mexico in the headliner of Pinoy Pride XIX: Mexican Invasion tonight at University of Southern Philippines gymnasium in Davao City.

Ramirez got pointers from compatriot Daniel Ponce de Leon, who knocked down Bautista twice for a TKO victory in the first round of their battle for the WBO super bantam crown nearly six years ago in Sacramento, California. And there’s one advice foremost Ramirez’s mind: Go for Bautista’s chin.

Bautista is focused at the task at hand, though.

“This is a great chance for me to once again show my skills,” Bautista told sportswriters in Cebuano Thursday.

“I prepared hard for this fight because I know he (Ramirez) is not an easy opponent. My only goal is to score an impressive victory.”

The protagonists both checked in at an exact 126 pounds in yesterday’s official weigh-in at SM City Davao.

Bautista, riding an eight-fight winning streak that included his title-clinching split decision over Mexican Daniel Ruiz last Oct. 20, totes a 34-2 record with 25 KOs. Ramirez is no pushover, though, with his 24-3, 17-KO  card.

In the chief support, OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes (34-6, 20 KOs) will battle Mexican Juan Kantun (20-3, 15 KOs) in a 10-round nontitle bout.