BANILAD, CEBU--WBO superfly champ Fernando Montiel showed up at the Fight Club here just an hour ago for a brief public workout, but refused to hit the mitts and heavy bags in an apparent move to keep his fighting arsenal under wraps as he girds for a titular defense against Cebuano Z 'The Dream' Gorres on Saturday at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
Montiel, closely surrounded by his father-trainer Manuel and his three brothers, did a light shadow-boxing in front of television crews and cameramen, but did nothing after that except to pose for photos with some boxing fans.
"No, no, no," said Montiel's father Manuel when asked if he could let his son do the mitts.
The Mexican world champion, according to his father, is now at 117 lbs, just two pounds over the regulatory weight limit, and should not find any difficulties when he takes to the scales this Friday for the official weigh-in at the Rajah Park Hotel.
Team Montiel then immediately went down the ground floor of the Banilad Trade Center after the brief workout, where a television crew from ABS-CBN was conducting a live news broadcast.
Meanwhile, WBO president for Asia Pacific Leon Panoncillo, who will supervise the world title bout, is expected to hit town tomorrow, as well as WBO president Paco Valcarcel.
Also expected to arrive is Colombian Feider Viloria, although organizers could not tell the exact arrival details due to transit visa problems Team Viloria encountered in Europe.
A big press conference takes place on Thursday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel where all fighters for the championship bouts will be present to answer media queries.
Also tomorrow, Z 'The Dream' Gorres will pay a courtesy call on Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano.
Gorres, who was born in Nasipit, honed his boxing skills in Mandaue City and was a bemedalled amateur boxers fighting for the city's boxing team.
In a related development, Las Vegas-based Brit Tony Martin, who flew in just for the fights, will serve as the chief cutman for both Gorres and Bautista for Saturday's fights.
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