MANILA — Cebuano super flyweight star Z “The Dream” Gorres easily fought his way to a lopsided unanimous decision victory against the defense-oriented Thai Deeden Kengkarun in their non-title bout scheduled for 10 rounds topbilling the other night’s “Return of the Z” boxing show at theSan Andres Sports and Civic Center here.
So dominant Gorres was from start to finish that the crowd burst into a thunderous applause after judges Eppie Almeda, Ricardo Canlas and Dennis Principe all scored a 100-88 shutout for the ALA Stable prodigy, who now improved his win-loss-draw record to 20-1-1 spiked with 11KOs.
The 23-year-old Gorres though failed to show all his skills, including what he learned out of his four-month stint in the US training at Buddy McGirt’s gym in Orlando, Florida. That is because of Kengkarun’s reluctance to exchange punches with him.
“Overall, I’m satisfied with his (Gorres) performance. It’s only that he failed to show all his skills because his opponent didn’t give him the chance. The guy (Kengkarun) fought to last, not to win.
He only punches one at a time. That’s the sad part when your opponent is always on the defensive,” admitted Antonio “Bidoy” L. Aldeguer, who charts Gorres’ career in partnership with eminent lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud.
After pounding Kengkarun with crisp jabs and solid body shots in the first round, the more composed and tactical Gorres unleashed a telling combination capped with a right hook to the head that sent the Thai visitor down at the seat of his pants late in the second round.
In the third, Kengkarun was meted with a one-point deduction for an intentional head-butt that opened a nasty cut over Gorres’ left eye that later needed seven stiches to close.
Gorres was not destructed by the cut, instead, the stylish Mandaue City-native slugger fought on courageously to annihilate the former PABA light flyweight champion Kengkarun the rest of the way.
“Naglisud gyud ko nga tumbahon siya kay defensive kaayo. Sige lang siya og depensa mao to nga wa kaayo ko makapakita sa akong abilidad. (I really had a hard time knocking him down because he was very defensive. He was at all times on the defensive end that’s why I failed to show all my skills),” said Gorres.
Aldeguer divulged that he will promote Gorres’ next fight, likely against OPBF No.4 115-pounder Ali Rohmad of Indonesia, in a blockbuster double-header that will also feature another ALA ring phenomenon, WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, sometime this November either in Cebu or in Manila. Aldeguer, however, said he will pull Gorres out of his November promotion if they will receive an offer from Japan for his prized ward to vie for the OPBF super flyweight title currently held by Japanese Masayuki Arinaga.
Arinaga is set to defend his title against fellow countryman Daisuke Murayama this August 22 in Tokyo, with the winner obligated to stake his belt next against Gorres, the mandatory challenger.
In the supporting main event of the Viva Entertainment-presented slugfest, Michael Domingo of SGG Stable dethroned Joel Bauya of Manila’s Emil Romano Stable via technical split decision in the eighth round to emerge as the new Philippine bantamweight champion.
The bout had to be stopped in the eighth frame as a serious cut over his left eye rendered Domingo unfit to continue fighting.
At the time of the stoppage, Ferdinand Estrella had it 77-75 for Bauya, but Almeda and Canlas penned it 78-74 and 77-75, respectively, for Domingo, pr ompting the latter’s manager Sammy Gello-ani to let loose a flashbulb smile in jubilation at the ringside.
Also, New ALA Boy Rey Caitom pulled off a hard-earned, but well-deserved split decision triumph over the equally-tough Pit Anacaya of Yolly Alfante Stable for his second straight win in as many fights as a pro, while Rodel Quilaton rocked the Manila fight fans after defeating Gerald Ubatay via split verdict in their very entertaining contest.
Eden Sonsona posted the shortest bout of the night, stopping Rosano Miranda, Jr. at the 2:35 mark of the fouth round.
The rest of the card saw Rodel Tejares beating Arnel Tadena by split decision, Lito Sisnorio defeating Isidro Lorona, Jr. via split verdict, Rey Orais winning by UD over Edmund Velayo and Donnie Nietes fighting to a first round technical draw with Ni?o Suelo.
