By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Z "The Dream" Gorres, makes his first ring appearance since his sensational first round knockout victory over highly touted Glenn Donaire in the curtain-raiser of the Manny Pacquiao- Erik Morales showdown last March 19, when he battles former WBC world-rated ex-Pan Asian Boxing Association champion Deeden Kengkarun at the Makati Coliseum on June 23.
The ten round main event heads a blockbuster fight card that will include Philippine bantamweight champion Joel Bauya’s title defense against explosive Michael Domingo who is coming off two impressive victories against highly-rated Indonesian opponents in Jakarta.
Promoted by Vic Del Rosario of Viva Entertainment Inc., the blockbuster fight card will be the first to be staged at the Makati Coliseum which is now under a new and dynamic management team of businessmen-sportsmen headed by Lito Orilloza along with former PBA Commissioner and WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud among others.
The Deeden fight will be crucial for Gorres who is rated No. 1 by the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation and is in line for a mandatory title shot against the winner of the forthcoming title fight between champion Masayuki Arinaga and challenger Daisuke Maruyama. The flashy southpaw is undefeated in his last eight fights after suffering a shocking defeat at the hands of Edgar Rodrigo at the Makati Coliseum in June 2003.
Gorres who honed his skills in a grueling stint under 2002 "Trainer of the Year" Buddy McGirt in Orlando, Florida along with former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa said he wants to "remove the stigma" of the loss to Rodrigo and is ready to prove his worth against the former PABA champion.
McGirt said Gorres had the potential to become a world champion and proved it when, with McGirt in his corner, the flashy Filipino devastated Donaire in one round. Since then Donaire won a big fight against Mexican journeyman Juan Alfonso Keb Baas last June 23 in California.
