By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Z “The Dream” Gorres, with smashing back-to-back wins on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s battles against Fahsan 3K Battery in “Yanig sa Taguig” and the “Coming With Everything” epic against Erik “El Terrible” Morales said yesterday he is aching for a title shot.
Gorres, the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation No. 1 super flyweight who is also rated No. 6 by the World Boxing Organization appeared at the weekly PSA Forum along with Thai opponent Deeden Kengkarun, the former world rated Pan Asia Boxing Federation champion, Michael Domingo who will battle champion Joel Bauya for the RP bantamweight title and WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista.
The Gorres-Deeden main event and the RP bantamweight championship headline a blockbuster fight card promoted by Viva Entertainment Inc., president Vic del Rosario in cooperation with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Manila Sports Council chairman Ali Atienza at the newly refurbished and air-conditioned San Andres Civic & Sports Center. Titled "Return of the Z" the fight card is sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum and Motolite.
Gorres said “I am in the best shape of my life” and expressed confidence in duplicating his impressive victories over Chaiyong Distar last December 11 and his sensational first round stoppage of highly touted Glen Donaire at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last March 19. Gorres is coming off a three-month training stint in Orlando, Florida under 2002 “Trainer of the Year” and former two-division world champion Buddy McGirt who predicted Gorres “will be the next Filipino world champion.”
However, WBO Asia-Pacific vice president Leon Panoncillo warned Gorres against taking Deeden lightly pointing out that in a comeback fight he scored a smashing third round TKO over Samart Petchbandung.
Panoncillo said “Deeden is a fabulous fighter who trains even on Sundays. He is in good condition and very motivated” and promised he would help the winner move into the top rungs of the WBO.
