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
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Think on your feet: Gorres, Melligen told
By Edri K. Aznar
ALA stalwarts Z Gorres and Mark Jason Melligen need to fight intelligently, in order to win their Nov. 14 bouts, according to their promoter ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer.
Gorres will face a hard-hitting former world title contender Luis Melendez in the main event set on the eve of the Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto war, while Melligen is trading leathers with knockout artist Michel Rosales.
A lot is at stake for both Gorres and Melligen in these fights because a win could impress their American promoter, Top Rank, and propel them to bigger fights in the US.
“It is very important for them to win in these tough fights,” said Aldeguer.
Gorres is being groomed to battle for the interim World Boxing Organization bantamweight title against Eric Morel, while Melligen will be given tougher opposition for a future world title shot.
Both fighters are already scheduled to see action in the third installment of the “Pinoy Power” series, which is tentatively scheduled on Feb. 13.
According to Aldeguer, Melendez is a tough nut to crack and can pack a punch with his brawling style of fighting.
“This guy Melendez can fight. He’s strong,” said Aldeguer. “Z shouldn’t engage and go toe-to-toe with this guy. Melendez can punch and can take a punch,” he added.
In 2007, Melendez fought then WBO super flyweight title-holder Fernan-do Montiel.
Melendez knocked down Montiel in the seventh round of that fight after the Mexican world champion decided to engage in a slugfest.
However, Montiel knock-ed out the tough Columbian in the 12th round.
“Gorres should fight his fight. He shouldn’t go for the knockout because it’ll just come.
That was Montiel’s mistake when he got knocked down,” said Aldeguer.
On the other hand, Aldegeur said that Melligen should use his speed and his footwork to outbox the taller Rosales in their 10-round light welterweight bout.
“Rosales can fight and he is taller. Mark should use his jabs and combos and move in and out,” he said.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 29, 2009.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Gorres fight moved
By Edri K. Aznar
INSTEAD of fighting in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto fight on Nov. 15 (RP time) in Las Vegas, Z Gorres is scheduled to headline a boxing card the day before the fight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
“They will stick with original plan. Z will be fighting in the main event of Nov. 13,” said ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer in an interview by Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
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The 27-year-old Gorres is tentatively scheduled to fight veteran Puerto Rican Eric Morel for the interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight crown as what was mandated by WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel.
However, it isn’t final yet as Morel hasn’t told Top Rank, the promoter of the event, if he is accepting the fight.
“They (Top Rank) are talking to the Morel camp but they (Morel’s camp) haven’t given a word,” said Aldeguer.
Despite the uncertainty, Aldeguer is optimistic that Gorres and the 34-year-old Morel will be facing each other because their fight was ordered by WBO.
“Morel should accept the fight because it was ordered by Paco Valcarcel,” he said.
If Morel refuses a fight with Gorres, Aldeguer is hoping that the WBO will pick another top contender to face Gorres for the interim WBO bantamweight title.
“We’ll just be ready. We’re focused on Morel but we are ready regardless who is placed in front of us. Hopefully, we get a word within the week,” said Aldeguer
The other fight ordered by WBO was a world title fight between the current WBO bantamweight titleholder Fernando Montiel and veteran Filipino fighter Gerry Peñalosa, which is slated this December.
Valcarcel said that the winner of the Gorrres vs. Morel and Montiel vs. Peñalosa fights will face each other in 2010 for the WBO bantamweight title.
Gorres and ALA Gym trainers Edito and Edmund Villamor will leave for the US on Oct. 18.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 9, 2009.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Z Gorres faces Carbajal in “Latin Fury 11”
Although Gorres only learned of his opponent this week, he said he is ready to battle any opponent placed in front of him.
ALA president Michael Aldeguer said Gorres is eager to show the international boxing fans that he belongs with the elite fighters in the bantamweight division.
“Z is excited to fight. He wants the chance to show that he belongs at the top,” said Aldeguer yesterday.
Even though Carbajal lost 16 of his 47 fights, Gorres isn’t taking him lightly as the Mexican faced some of the best names in the lower weight categories.
“He fought a lot of great fighters before and his losses were from named opponents,” said Aldeguer of Gorres’ Mexican opponent. “We are not taking any chances. He was once a world-rated fighter. Z has to be prepared,” he added.
Carbajal, who holds a 29 wins, 16 losses and 2 draws with 25 knockouts record, has fought the likes of World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel, ex-WBO bantamweight titlist Ratanachai Sor Vorapin, erstwhile International Boxing Federation super bantamweight titleholder Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and defeated two division world champion Danny Romero via a fourth round technical knockout in 2002.
Carbajal won the WBO bantamweight crown in March 2002 by dethroning Mauricio Martinez via a ninth round stoppage. He defended it twice until he was defeated by Sor Vorapin by unanimous decision in Thailand in 2004.
“Getting Carbajal was getting more than we expected. This is the fight that Gorres needs,” said Aldeguer.
After this fight, Gorres is scheduled to headline another fight card at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 13, on the eve of the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto mega war.
ALA fighter Mark Jason Melligen will also be fighting on the same card against Michel Rosales.
“Each fight now is very important for Z. Hopefully we’ll get a title shot next year because it’s high time for him to fight for a world title ,” said Aldeguer.
Also slated in Top Rank’s “Latin Fury 11” is World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight king Donnie Nietes, who will face interim champion Manuel Vargas.
Headlining the fight card is Mexico’s Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr., who is set to face Jason Lehoullier, and Montiel, who is defending his world title against Alejandro Valdez.
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