ALA Boxing Gym mainstays Z ?The Dream? Gorres and Malcolm ?Eagle Eye? Tu?acao gear up for crucial fights against African opposition that will be the yardstick if they are still worthy of another world title shot.
?We believe he can still be a world champion,? ALA Promotions president Michael P. Aldeguer said of Gorres during yesterday?s news conference at Big Mao-Crossroads promoting the keenly-awaited ?One More Time? card.
Gorres (27-2-2, 15KOs), the current IBF Intercontinental super flyweight champion, will clash with Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) bantamweight titlist Nick Otieno (15-1, 5KOs) of Kenya in a non-title bout scheduled for 10 rounds headlining the blockbuster May 31 show at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel.
If victorious, Aldeguer said Gorres will earn the right to challenge next the winner of the IBF super flyweight title match between defending champion Dimitri Kirilov of Russia and Vic Darchinyan of Australia before the year ends.
?This is a very significant fight for him because this is his stepping stone for another world title fight. If he gets past Otieno, he is likely to face next the winner of the Kirilov-Darchinyan match before the year ends,? said Aldeguer.
In the supporting main event, Tu?acao (21-2-3, 14KOs) will make his ring return from a 16-month hiatus as he battles Tanzanian champion Rashid Ally (11-9-7, 2KOs) in another exciting 10-round rumble.
Tu?acao has not fought since losing by 10th round technical decision to fellow countryman Rolly Lunas on January 13 last year in Tokyo, but Aldeguer remains steadfast in his faith of a bright future for the former WBC flyweight champion.
?We feel he?s (Tu?acao) one of the best talents we ever produced. He?s always been with the ALA Gym. We?re very happy were promoting him once again,? said Aldeguer.
Both Gorres and Tu?acao were in confident mood as they talked about their fight plans before the members of tri-media.
?I have no idea on the style of my opponent, but I trained hard because I know the importance of this fight,? said Gorres. ?I can?t predict on what round I?m going to stop him. I?ll just try my best to finish the fight early.?
For Tu?acao, his comeback will be an opportunity for him to showcase what?s left of him after his career came tumbling down last year due to a mixture of personal and professional problems.
?My career took a nosedive the past year because of some personal troubles,? admitted Tu?acao. ?But I?m a changed man now and I?m very focused on my career.?
ALA Stable chief trainer Edito Villamor attested Tu?acao?s claims saying that his ward has been training so hard and has quickly regained his flashy moves and style.
?Tu?acao is back from his old self. It?s all up to him now to show what he can do in the ring,? said Villamor.
Aside from the double-barrel slugfest starred by Gorres and Tu?acao, another weighty reason why ring buffs should watch the slambang event is Jason Pagara, the newfound gem of ALA Boxing Gym from Cagayan de Oro City.
At 16 years old, Pagara (13-1, 7KOs) attempts to make history as the youngest champion of ALA Stable as he goes up against Indonesian hard-puncher Heri Andriyanto (11-3-1, 7KOs) in a 12-round brawl for the WBO Youth lightweight crown.
The rest of the action-packed undercards pit Jether Oliva vs. Jayson Rotoni, Jun Intor vs. Ali Belonguel, Juan Miguel Elorde vs. Racem Laud, Romero Jakosalem vs. Elmer Colve, and Jerson Mancio vs. Ratazu.
Meanwhile, ALA Promotions vice president Dennis Ca?ete announced that tickets for the ?One More Time? will be on sale starting today at the following outlets: ALA Gym-BTC, Island Souvenir boutiques in SM and Ayala; Bisaya Ispisyal boutiques in SM and Ayala; and ALA main office through Brent at 346-3489 or 0917-3253005 .
Tickets are priced at P1,500 for VIP 1st row, P1,250 for VIP 2nd row, P1,000 for 3rd row, P750 for 4th row, P550 for ringside, P350 for ballroom, and P250 for balcony.
