Gorres to fight Melendez

By Edri K. Aznar

ALA boy Z Gorres is up for a dangerous assignment as he faces Columbian knockout artist Luis Melendez on Nov. 13 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Gorres has to hurdle past Melendez to get a possible World Boxing Organization bantamweight title fight next year with No.1 contender Eric Morel, which was mandated by WBO.

“This was an opponent that we expected. He’s a strong opponent.

His record speaks for itself,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.

The 29-year-old Melendez has a record of 26-3-1 with 21 knockouts. He knocked down Fernando Montiel for the WBO super flyweight champion in 2007, the same year Gorres lost a controversial split decision in Cebu City.

“Melendez had a good fight with Montiel. He knocked down Montiel but was unfortunately knocked out in the 12th round,” said Aldeguer.

Gorres is training rigidly at the Wild Card Gym in California, under Edito Villamor, in his debut as a Top Rank fighter.

“It will be a tough fight. This guy’s a puncher, a KO artist.

This guy can punch. He is a dangerous opponent and he is very hungry but Z is always prepared for tough fights,” said Aldeguer.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 22, 2009.