By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Masayuki Arinaga’s impressive ninth round knockout victory over previously unbeaten Daisuke Maruyama in a title defense in Tokyo, Monday has paved the way for Z “The Dream” Gorres to get a mandatory shot at Arinaga.
OPBF president Frank Quill earlier ruled that the winner of the Arinaga-Maruyama bout would have to defend against the flashy Filipino southpaw who is ranked No. 1.
Respected Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer who manages Gorres promptly informed Quill that he was exercising Gorres’ mandatory rights and indicated that he was interested in promoting the title fight in the Philippines although he expressed doubts that the Japanese would agree. This would mean going into a purse bid.
Aldeguer told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he was certain the Japanese would want to stage the title defense of Arinaga in Japan and are likely to outbid the Philippines.
Gorres’s manager disclosed he plans to have Gorres engage in a tune-up fight sometime in November before the title shot which he expects to be held early next year.
Well known Japanese matchmaker, journalist and manager of OPBF junior lightweight champion Randy Suico, Joe Koizumi reported that Arinaga flattened Maruyama with a devastating southpaw left after turning his face into a bloody mess. Koizumi said that after Maruyama who had 13 consecutive KO’s took the first round with his aggressiveness, Arinaga started fireworks from the second and swept all the remaining rounds with solid lefts and right hooks. A vicious left hook ended the contest.
