NOT true that Z Gorres had gone to America just once. Twice already.
Not true also that he deserted Rudy Salud. It was Rudy Salud who initiated Gorres’ transfer to the stable of Tony Aldeguer, Cebu’s most celebrated boxing manager after Wakee Salud.
My mistake. I apologize.
The corrections came from Rudy Salud himself so, who’s complaining?
Not me.
My mistake. I apologize.
“I sent Z twice to America mainly to have his skills sharpened and employed a boxing expert there to put more power to his punches,” said Salud, talking to me from his bed at home by telephone. “I did that because the first time I saw him fight, I knew he’d be a strong material to become a world champion. He needed only polishing and so, I thought sending him to America would do it.”
The ploy paid off as recent events in the boxing career of Z Gorres would prove. Rudy Salud’s find has yet to taste a defeat the last two years or so and could very well be on the road to the world throne.
To be sure, I am a fan, too, of Z Gorres and should there be someone out there thinking that I think ill of him, quit the crap.
As proof to my undiminished admiration of Z Gorres, I had devoted an entire column about him a while back, thanks to George Alcantara. Glowingly, I must admit, was the piece I had written about the kid.
One night some time ago, George Alcantara, Rudy Salud’s most trusted friend for more than three decades now, introduced me to Z Gorres at the Sulo Restaurant in Quezon City. Almost immediately, I liked Z the minute I shook his rock-hard hand. Very polite and respectful, Z spoke almost in whispers. That evening, it was as though Z wanted to make his fists and not his lips do the talking. I could barely hear him, the words flowing out of his mouth like mere droplets of rain. Barely audible. His eyes would dart and dash, like arrows just released.
“He is a very quiet boy,” Rudy Salud said of Z Gorres. “It is not hard to like him. In fact, I found it quite difficult to let go of him. Only when I thought of Tony (Aldeguer) as his new manager did I finally have peace of mind about parting ways with him. There’s no better man than Tony who can give Z all the support to make him become our next world champion.”
Take a bow, Tony?
And while we are at it, it is not also true that Solar Sports had covered four Manny Pacquiao fights. Six times already. The correction came from a Solar Sports executive who requested anonymity.
“Thank you for highlighting Solar Sports’ humble contribution to the Manny Pacquiao saga,” came the text-message from a Solar Sports official. “We wish him good luck, as usual, in his next fight and future fights.”
* * *
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. It’s nice to hear that George Chua of Red Bull has given P50,000 to Bert Cuevas, the sports editor of Manila Standard/TODAY who is seriously ill with diabetes. May George’s tribe increase. I’m sure there are still lots out there who have given help not only to Bert but also to Butch Maniego. Butch is also a fellow journalist-broadcaster who’s undergoing kidney dialysis three times a week. There’s a fund-raising affair for the two later this month at Merk’s Bistro, Greenbelt 3 in Makati. I raise my glass to my colleagues Ed Picson and Beth Celis, who are spearheading the charity show hosted no less by the maestro himself, Richard Merk. Richard is just about the only singer-artist I know whose philanthropic ways are almost without equal. Cheers!
* * *
FASTBREAK. Seemingly, there was a tinge of sadness etched on the face of Howard Belton during the Unilever Barkada Golf at Wack Wack on March 7. Was it the Unilever chair’s farewell performance? Say it ain’t so, Mr. Belton? I was almost tempted to ask Chito Macapagal, the ever dashing, hardworking Unilever golf main cog. Say it ain’t so, Chito?
* * *
Comments to [email protected]
