By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Z “The Dream” Gorres, the current Orient Pacific Boxing Federation and Philippines No. 1 ranked super flyweight continues to impress under the astute eye of 2003 “Trainer of the Year” Freddie Roach at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles where he continues to train diligently along with Philippine super featherweight champion and OPBF No. 1 Bobby Pacquiao, younger brother of Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard yesterday, Gorres said he was looking forward to his October 29 US debut against Mexican veteran Marcos "El Rojo" Badillo in an eight round bout in San Diego, California. Gorres said he sparred six rounds with former world title hopeful Vernie Torres and according to Pacquiao’s assessment did very well. Some two weeks ago Gorres bloodied world-rated flyweight Brian Viloria and battered him in a sparring session which resulted in Viloria begging off from further sparring sessions with the flashy Filipino suthpaw.
Gorres said that he had learned a lot from Roach but to him the most important was “self-confidence” which, in the opinion of many Filipino boxing aficionados was the 22 year old Gorres’ major problem. Gorres sounded confident but not cocky about his chances in his first fight in the US where some of Roach’s friends have sought to tie him up for future fights and a possible business management contract. However, WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud who manages the career of Gorres in partnership with Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer said he was holding back any decision because he wanted to wait for a chance to asses Gorres’ showing next week and to discuss future plans after that.
Salud disclosed that he wanted to be fair to all concerned pointing out that Gorres was able to leave for the US to train, with the assistance of international promoter Murad Muhammad and Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario who helped arrange for the visa of Gorres while Salud handled all expenses.
Torres who won the vacant USBA super flyweight title on November 8, 2003 with a unanimous decision over Miguel Del Valle and the IBA bantamweight title with a sensational tenth round TKO over Julio Carbonell on January 18, 2003 os currently ranked No. 3 by the newly-formed World Boxing Federation behind former WBC flyweight champions Malcolm Tunacao and Medgoen 3K Battery who won the title with shocking third round demolition of an overweight and dehydrated Manny Pacquiao. Gorres said he would return to Manila after the October 29 bout so he could continue training in Manila for his planned bout on the undercard of the December 4 fight of Pacquiao, possibly against rugged Thai fighter Fahsan (3K Battery) Por Thawatchai, a 30 year old southpaw with a record of 44-71 with 23 knockouts including a string of victories over more than ten Filipinos.
