By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Z “The Dream” Gorres, probably one of the unluckiest but truly talented boxers from the famed ALA Gym is moving up from super flyweight to bantamweight and will battle former world minimum weight champion Robert “Mako” Leyva at the plush Waterfront hotel on March 14.
Leyva who has also steadily moved up in weight since winning the IBF minimum weight title from the stylish Daniel Reyes in a twelve round unanimous decision on April 29, 2004 also fought and beat for IBF champion Manny Melchor of the Philippines in a ten round bout on March 9, 2002.
Leyva won the IBF title in only his 19th fight but lost it to undefeated Miguel Barrera whom he battled to a technical draw in 2001.
A report on the fight said it was “fairly close, but Leyva clearly lost.” The fight was described as “ a great battle, with the fight getting national attention for being a possible "Fight of the Year".
Leyva’s rematch against Barrera not as exciting, but ended with the same winner with Leyva on the wrong end of a perfect body shot that paralyzed him in the 3rd round and he was unable to get up.
The article noted that Leyva is still a good top contender, but it will be awhile till he gets another title shot.
Both the Mexican and Gorres have moved up to a more comfortable weight, hoping to make their mark in the 118 pound division. Both fighters are southpaw with the 29 year old Leyva sporting a record of 25-8-1 with 20 knockouts.
Leyva is coming off a sixth round loss on points to Benjamin Garcia last September 11. Garcia has taken on some formidable opponents in his career including undefeated Raul “Cobra” Martinez who is scheduled to challenge Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire for his IBF/IBO titles at the Araneta Coliseum on March 22 as well as the tough Giovanni Segura and former world champions Brian Viloria and Eric Ortiz.
The 26 year old Gorres on the other hand has a record of 28-2-2 with 15 knockouts and is coming off a solid ten round unanimous decision over game Kenyan Nick Otieno last May 31.
Gorres earlier engaged Vic Darchinyan in a rough and rugged IBF super flyweight eliminator which ended in a draw. Darchinyan went on to win the title from Dimitri Kirilov of Russia and then mauled the highly-fancied Cristian Mijares to win his WBC and WBA titles in a stunning upset last November 1.
Gorres lost a hugely controversial split decision in his bid to win the WBO super flyweight title from Mexican champion Fernando Montiel before some 25,000 fans at the Cebu City sports complex. A vast majority of boxing writers and broadcasters at ringside felt Gorres clearly deserved the win.
Youthful Michael Aldeguer who has taken over the mantle of the ALA Gym operations from his respected father and boxing patron Tony Aldeguer told us that Gorres “feels very comfortable at bantamweight and has looked really good in training.”
