The moment of truth beckons for Cebuano ring star Z ?The Dream? Gorres and Armenia-born Australian KO artist Vic ?The Raging Bull? Darchinyan as they slug it out in an IBF super flyweight eliminator headlining the ?Now or Never? card tonight at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel.
Showtime promptly starts at 6 pm.
Gorres (27-2-1, 15KOs) and Darchinyan (29-1-1, 23KOs) bear a common mission as they head into the battlefield – to prove they still have what it takes to be a world champion.
But only one of them can lay claim to that after their 12-round showdown that will be broadcast on Solar Sports on a slightly delayed basis.
For Gorres, he is dead ready to deal with the tough challenge at hand against the big-mouthed Armenian who persistenly pronounced he?s going to knock out the ALA Boxing Gym stalwart.
?I?m very excited to fight because now we will know if he (Darchinyan) really can do what he?s been bragging about,? said Gorres.
?I?ve training hard and I have high confidence in myself that I?m going to beat him. I will give my all out best to put a good show and a very entertaining fight. He should better prepare,? added the Mandaue City fighter.
Although they?re opposite in stature, Gorres and Darchinyan practically walked down similar paths in their last two fights.
Gorres lost in his first title by controversial split decision to WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico almost a year ago here in Cebu, while Darchinyan suffered a shocking fifth round TKO loss to Fil-Am Nonito Donaire Jr. on July 7, 2007 in Connecticut that cost him his IBF/IBO flyweight belts.
Gorres went on to score sweet redemption by stopping former WBC light flyweight ruler Eric Ortiz in round eight during the Boxing World Cup on August 11 last year in Sacramento, California.
Ditto with Darchinyan, who decked Cebuano Federico Catubay in the 12th round to clinch the IBO 115-pound crown in his previous ring appearance on October 20 last year in New South Wales, Australia.
Now that they?re ranged against each other, fight fans could expect one big war as Gorres and Darchinyan dispute the right to challenge next IBF super flyweight champion Dimitri Kirilov of Russia.
In the supporting main event, RP light welterweight crown-holder Mark Jason Melligen (9-1, 7KOs) will take on Indonesian 140-pound champion Tia Koswara (15-5-2, 8KOs).
The rest of the bouts feature Romeo Jakosalem (6-2, 4KOs) of Davao City vs. William Kickitt (8-0, 4KOs) of Australia, James Bacon (3-1, 3KOs) of ALA Stable vs. Diosdado Perez (2-2) of Manila, Rollen del Castillo (15-5-1, 7KOs) of ALA Stable vs. Fabio Marfa (24-19-4, 12KOs) of Mandaue, Fil-Am JV Tuazon (2-1-1) of New Jersey vs. Rey Villar (0-2-1) of Sultan Kudarat, and Alejandro Belonguel (4-1) of Mandaue vs. Ruel Cuizon (0-2-1) of Manila.
