MANILA, Philippines – What future holds for Z ?The Dream? Gorres and Milan Melindo of Cebu?s fabled ALA Boxing Gym will be known tonight when they take on dangerous foes who are former world champions in the co-feature of ?Judgment at the Waterfront? at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Showtime promptly begins at 6 pm.
Gorres opens a new chapter of his career as he makes his bantamweight debut against ex-IBF minimumweight titlist Roberto Carlos ?Mako? Leyva of Mexico in a 12-round rumble for the WBO Oriental 118-pound crown, while Melindo is likewise in for a tough challenge as he trades punches with erstwhile IBF 105-pound king Muhammad ?The Rock Breaker? Rachman of Indonesia in a non-title bout scheduled for 10 rounds.
During yesterday?s well-attended official weigh-in supervised by WBO Asia-Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo at the SM City-Cebu Entertainment Center, Gorres and Leyva weighed over the regulatory weight limit of 118 pounds. Leyva came in one pound over, while Gorres stepped in at 118 3/4 first and then 118 1/2 in his second attempt.
After almost an hour of sweating it out, Leyva was able to shed off the extra poundage and surprisingly scaled in at 116 3/4 pounds in his second try, signifying he?s in perfect shape heading into the battlefield. Ditto with Gorres who needed just a few minutes to make the cut at 118 pounds.
With everything already in place, the day of reckoning now beckons for Gorres and Melindo, who are both facing crucial fights that will be the yardstick as to what lies ahead of them. And they are well aware of that.
?I know the importance of this fight and I have to win this one,? said the 26-year-old Gorres, who holds a 28-2-2 record packed with 15KOs. The hard-punching Leyva sports a 25-8-1 card spiked with 20KOs.
?I?ve seen the way he (Leyva) fights. He couldn?t be taken lightly because he?s a strong puncher. But I?ve done my homework well and I?m very confident of beating him. I?ll just try my best to give the fans a very exciting fight,? added the former IBF Intercontinental super flyweight champion.
Melindo is as confident as Gorres. ?If he (Rachman) thinks this is just a tune-up fight for him, I?m going to prove him wrong. I assure everyone that it?s me who will come out victorious in this bout ,? said the reigning WBO Asia-Pacific and WBA Intercontinental mini-flyweight ruler.
It?s going to be a quentissential battle of youth against experience as Melindo will tackle a grizzled veteran who is 16 years older than him. Though Melindo is unscathed in 17 fights dotted with 5KOs, his credential pales in comparison to Rachman, who wields a 62-6-5 record spiked with 31KOs in 73 ring appearances.
But Melindo is unperturbed, saying that he even loves the challenge of fighting a top-grade opposition.
?I?m ready for the challenge. Fighting against a very tough opponent only brings the best out of me,? said the Cagayan de Oro City warrior.
In the equally-explosive supporting bouts of the slambang event presented by ALA Promotions in partnership with Waterfront Hotel and giant TV network ABS-CBN, RP bantamweight title-holder Michael ?Sunday Punch? Domingo will slug it out with Monico Laurente of Elorde Stable, while James Bacon will figure in a grudge rematch of sort with his former tormentor William Jorge of CDO?s Leolets Stable.
The rest of the undercards pit Joseph Von Mi?oza vs. Rufino Mante, Marjohn Makahilig vs. Marlon Ariesga, Ricardo Campana vs. Jherpol Valero, and Jomar Cordinillo vs. Ricky Nu?ez.
For ticket reservations, one may call/text Jeana at 0928-5057980 or 0928-5215772 or keep in touch with the ALA Promotions Office at 236-4611. (THE FREEMAN)
