INQUIRER Global Nation

WBO Intercontinental superbantam champion Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista is set to see action against Mexican Heriberto “Cuate” Ruiz on Nov. 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to a report posted by Philboxing.com.

The fight will be put underneath the huge Ricky Hatton-Paulie Malignaggi showdown for the Ring Magazine world light welterweight title which will be broadcast live on HBO.

Bautista, who was a guest of last Sunday's top-rating boxing program “Pinoy Boxing” over dyHP, was originally penciled to see action in the December 6 De la Hoya-Pacquiao Dream Match, but television matters scuttled the plan.

The 22-year-old Bautista (26-1, 19 KO's) is under contract with ABS-CBN, while rival network GMA-7 is set to air the De la Hoya-Pacquiao fight on free television in coordination with rights owner Solar Sports.

The 31-year-old Ruiz, who hails from Los Mochis, Mexico, had faced former world champions Rafael Marquez, Irene Pacheco, and Eric Morel, to whom he dropped a unanimous decision in August for the WBO Intercontinental bantam crown.

Bautista is coming off a second-round demolition of Eden Marquez last August 30, this third win since a disappointing loss at the hands of ex-WBO king Daniel Ponce De Leon.

The young fighter has vowed to come back from the loss and is seeking to get yet another crack at a world title in the near future.