By Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya said yesterday that both Z “The Dream” Gorres and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista can be world champions although he warned that Gorres who faces WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel in a mandatory title fight and Bautista who battles WBC Latino super bantamweight champion Feider Viloria on February 24 in Cebu City won’t have an easy time.

 

De La Hoya said both Gorres and the undefeated Bautista are being pitted against boxers who are “willing to give their all” to keep their belts but added that he was “very confident that Boom Boom and Z have the tools to be champions and have worked hard for it. If they win, they win because they deserve it.”

 

De La Hoya indicated he was amazed to find Gorres and Bautista in top shape when they paid a courtesy call on the Golden Boy at his office in Los Angeles.

 

Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez who watched the two stars from the famed ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer spar at celebrated trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym said he was impressed. One of the journalists who watched the flashy Gorres sparring said he was awed watching Gorres dance around the ring. He said Gorres was “impressively sharp.”

 

There were no indications on whether De La Hoya will be in Cebu for thee fight since he is preparing for his monumental clash with “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather on May 5 but Gomez said he would not miss the fight.