By Edri K. Aznar
Z GORRES may have a chance to avenge his earlier controversial loss to World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel as a possible rematch between both fighters has been brewing lately.
“There is a possibility that Z will be in a title fight with Montiel,” said ALA Promotions president Michael Aldguer. “We’re looking at that angle,” he added.
Gorres lost to Montiel via split decision in their world title fight in 2007 in Cebu City.
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Aldeguer will get a chance to confirm this report when he talks with Top Rank in two weeks. The young promoter will be flying to the US for the Nov. 13 fight of Gorres.
Gorres was supposed to fight Eric Morel for the interim WBO bantamweight title but the fight never materialized.
Although nothing has been confirmed as of now, Aldeguer is optimistic that a huge fight is in store for Gorres next year.
The 27-year-old Gorres is scheduled to join the “Pinoy Power 3” fight card, along with Filipino world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and fellow ALA boy Mark Jason Melligen, on Feb. 13 in Las Vegas if he gets past Luis Melendez in their 10-round bout on Nov. 13 at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.
“He knows that to go to Montiel, he has to go through Melendez,” said Aldeguer. “Z is very prepared and confident because he knows what’s at stake. He’s been dreaming of a Montiel fight.”
Aldeguer believes the 29-year-old Melendez is formidable foe and they won’t be taking him lightly.
“We have watched the video (of Melendez) and we already have a battle plan. Z knows that he will be facing a dangerous opponent. Melendez can take a punch and also packs a punch. Z knows he has to win and in order for him to win he should fight his fight,” said Aldeguer.
Montiel made a mistake of fighting Melendez’s style in their 2007 battle as he was knocked down in the seventh round after engaging the heavy-handed Columbian in a slugfest.
However, Montiel still won the fight after stopping Melendez in the final round of their 12-round battle for the WBO super flyweight title.
Also seeing action on the same card is up-and-coming junior welterweight Melligen and veteran journeyman Federico Catubay.
Melligen will face Mexican knockout artist Michel Rosales, while Catubay will be in an International Boxing Federation super flyweight title eliminator against Juan Alberto Rosas of Mexico.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 6, 2009.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Chance to get even
Young Casimero preps for title fight
By Edri K. Aznar
ALL systems are go for Jhonreil Casimero’s world title fight on Dec. 19 in Nicaragua as his and his team’s visa was approved yesterday.
“Team Casimero secured a visa today. All the plans are already a go,” SGG Promotions promoter Sammy Gello-ani told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
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Casimero is up against former world champion Cesar Canchila for the interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight title.
Although an underdog with less than half the fight experience of Canchila (28-22 KOs), Gello-ani is optimistic that the undefeated Casimero (13-0 7 KOs) will mirror the feat of 19-year-old Marvin Sonsona.
“I always believe in fighters who have power and talent. And if you prepare them really well, then they can win a world title. I’m confident that Casimero will win the world title,” said Gello-ani.
Sonsona captured the WBO super flyweight title after an upset unanimous decision victory over veteran champion Jose Lopez last September in Canada.
Sonsona’s victory came just in his 14th fight and first outside of the Philippines.
Just like the young champion, it will be Casimero’s first fight outside the country.
“There has been good development in his training. I see something in his progress,” said Gello-ani, who handles Casimero’s career.
Casimero has been training at the IPI Gym in Mandaue City where he has been given much needed pointers by Nonito Donaire Sr.
Casimero and his team will be leaving for the US in the last week of November. They will continue training there in Donaire’s Gym in San Francisco before flying to Nicaragua two weeks before the fight.
Casimero hasn’t fought outside the Philippines and hasn’t been in a world title battle unlike his Colombian opponent.
However, Gello-ani doesn’t see this as a setback for the 19-year-old up-and-coming Cebuano fighter.
“That’s why we are training in Nicaragua so that he will be at ease. It’s one way of making him comfortable,” he said.
Casimero will be training in the same gym in Nicaragua where undefeated World Boxing Association mini-flyweight champion Roman Gonzales trains.
Casimero last fought on May 28 and scored an eighth-round knockout against Ardin Diale for the WBO Asia-Pacific light flyweight title.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Boxing: Perez captures IBF bantamweight title
Perez emerged from the action-packed bout still unbeaten, improving to 20-0 with 14 wins inside the distance.
He was credited with a knockdown late in the 10th round, sending Agbeko to the canvas when Agbeko had turned away to complain to referee Robert Byrd about a head-butt.
"I didn't see whether it was a head butt or a punch, therefore I had to rule it was from a punch," Byrd said.
Two of the ringside judges scored the bout 117-110 for Perez, while a third saw it 116-111.
Buoyed by the knockdown, Perez poured on the pressure in the last two rounds.
"I knew I was winning the rounds, and I deserved to get the victory," Perez said. "I trained to throw a lot of punches. I know Agbeko likes to throw a lot of punches, so I knew I had to be better conditioned. All the hard work and preparation paid off."
Agbeko, who was making his third defence of a title he won two years ago, fell to 27-2 with 22 knockouts. He said the 10th round was the key to a contest that featured furious action from both fighters from the opening round.
"He head-butted me in round 10 and I didn't think that was fair," Agbeko said. "I thought I was fighting well toward that point. Perez seemed energised and I stayed the same."
Perez called the victory "a dream come true."
"I don't think he was in good shape. I think he went down to catch his breath," he said of the controversial knockdown. "I felt I was more consistent, more active and I pressed the fight throughout."
On the same card, Mexico's Antonio DeMarco dominated Nicaragua's Jose Alfaro en route to a 10th-round technical knockout in a fight for the World Boxing Council interim lightweight title.
Referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight at the 2:07 mark of the round after DeMarco knocked down Alfaro twice.
Alfaro beat the count both times, but as DeMarco continued to press, Alfaro took a knee and Cortez called a halt.
"It's impossible to describe the feeling I have inside me right now," DeMarco said. "This is the second happiest day of my life. Only the birth of my daughter comes first."
The victory put DeMarco in line to challenge unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero of Venezuela.
- AFP/so
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