MANILA, Philippines – Filipino featherweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista has predicted a knockout in the early rounds when he goes up against Mexican knockout artist Miguel Angel Mendoza.

Bautista reacted to Mendoza’s 6th-round knockout forecast and said the Mexican's prediction will likely be wrong.

“Maybe he won't even reach the 6th,” he said in Philboxing.com.

Bautista will defend his IBF international featherweight title against Mendoza in the main event of Pinoy Pride X on Saturday.

ABS-CBN will air the fight card on Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m. on Channel 2.

Bautista said he is unfazed by Mendoza’s undefeated record as a pro.

“We'll see on the day of the fight, but this will not be my hardest fight,” he said.

Mendoza has a record of 17 wins with no defeat. All of his victories came by way of knockout.

Bautista, on the other hand, has 31 victories against 2 losses. He won 23 fights by knockout.

His trainer, Edito Villamor, said he expects fireworks when the two boxers clash in the ring.

“One of them will go down,” Villamor said. “Both are power punchers and fans should expect a great fight.”

He added that they have prepared alternative fight plans for Bautista in case Mendoza changes strategies during fight time.

“What we saw in Mendoza's fight videos may be different on fight night. They may change and adjust his wild punches,” said Villamor.