By Ronnie Nathanielsz
OPBF super flyweight champion Z "The Dream" Gorres put on the kind of classic boxing lesson that trainers and managers dream of in outclassing tough Colombian Pedro Rincon Miranda over ten rounds at the Home Depot Center in Carson City yesterday.
The flashy Filipino southpaw kept the winning streak of prized fighters from the famed ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer going, one week after stablemate and WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista destroyed Nicarguan toughie Roberto Bonilla in three rounds at the Staples Center, scoring a spectacular knockout and returning home to a hero's welcome.
Gorres dominated from the opening bell dropping Miranda twice in the opening round and then again in the fifth and the tenth and final round with perfectly timed combinations. But according to boxing writers at ringside the "tough-as-nails Miranda somehow made it to the final bell."
So overpowering was Gorres' performance that all three judges scored it a shutout, turning in identical 100-87 scorecards.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Gorres said he thought he had Miranda in the first round and would knock him out but that whenever he was in trouble the Colombian clinched.
Gorres said that Miranda was tough and kept "moving in and out" using his 44-fight experience to good advantage.
Well known boxing manager and promoter Sammy Gello-ani said Gorres put on "a very impressive performance against a tough opponent" in the most applauded fight of the Golden Boy Promotions card in which WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez scored a split decision over super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel in which Boxing Scene reported "there were plenty of boos throughout the encounter." Super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, a possible future title opponent of Bautista, scored a second round knockout over super flyweight Guerson Guerrero. Guerrero moved up two divisions to take the fight after De Leon's original opponent, Mexican Alejandro Barrera couldn't get a visa due to discrepancies in his birth date and replacement Christopher Cruz was two pounds over the limit.
Guerrero who was scheduled to fight former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios showdown at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2 blew his chance with the KO loss and forced the Mano-A-Mano matchmakers to look for a replacement.
Michael Aldeguer, one of the sons of Tony Aldeguer who has a love for boxing much like his father, said Gorres "looked good and Miranda was clinching to stay on his feet."
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach had earlier predicted a good future for Gorres saying he was an excellent boxer and that despite some doubts, he does have punching power which he proved in this fight and would someday be world champion.
Gello-ani reported that WBO president Francisco "Paco" Valcarel who watched the fights said "here comes another fine young Filipino fighter" in reference to Gorres who improved his record to 24--1-1 with 12 KO's while Miranda dropped to 31-11-2 with 25 KO's.
It was Gorres' third successive win in the US. He hammered highly-touted Glen Donaire in two rounds on the undercard of the first Pacquiao-Erik Morales battle at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, then scored a fine win over rugged Jose Antonio Tirado in the main event at the Orleans Hotel & Casino also in Las Vegas before putting on his best showing against Miranda.
