By Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum wants to sign up classy Z "The Dream" Gorres because he believes Gorres is "a terrific fighter."

 

Gorres who has a record of 29-2-2 with 16 knockouts is one of the mainstays of the famed ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer and is currently ranked No. 3 bantamweight by the WBO and No. 7 by the IBF.

 

Fighting as a super flyweight Gorres lost a hugely controversial split decision to WBO champion Fernando Montiel in February 2007 in Cebu and later fought Vic Darchinyan to a draw also in Cebu.

 

Arum told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he had told matchmaker Bruce Trampler "we want to make contact with the manager and I want to see if we can sign this boy. "

 

He said that Trampler had called Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker to check whether it was true that Gorres was no longer under contract with Golden Boy. Arum said Gomez confirmed that they "had no contract with Gorres any longer. "

 

Trampler himself told us "we’re very excited about working with Tony and Michael Aldeguer and their stable of fighters including Z Gorres."

 

There is a possibility that should Top Rank sign up Gorres in the near future he may figure on the scheduled August 29 fight card at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu headlined by IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria’s first defense of the title he won with a spectacular, one-punch 11th round knockout over the tough Mexican Ulises Solis last April 19.

 

Viloria, the former WBC champion has a record of 25-2 with 15 knockouts and will face tough and rugged Luis Alberto Lazarte of Mexico who has a record of 43-9-1 with 18 knockouts to his name and gave WBC champion Edgar Sosa a rough time before being disqualified in the 10 round for low blows in a decision Lazarte vehemently protested.

 

In a deft move the astute Arum appears to be outsmarting Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions by capitalizing on the fierce rivalry between Filipinos and Mexicans who are guaranteed crowd pleasers and is pushing the concept of Pinoy Power.

 

Trampler said Filipinos are "outnumbered by Mexicans who are in effect the home team, so like Manny (Pacquiao) did before them, the Pinoys have to beat Mexicans on their way to the top. I think your guys are going to do it. "