AMERICAN promoter Gary Shaw expects a tough fight when Z Gorres battles it out with Vic ?The Raging Bull? Darchinyan on Feb. 2 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug.
?They are both coming to fight. I don?t see either fighter running away,? Shaw said in a gathering with local media late Friday night.
Though wary that Darchinyan?s loss to Nonito Donaire Jr. last August may have affected his fighter, Shaw said he hoped ?Darchinyan beats Gorres in a way that shows the old Darchinyan back.?
Darchinyan lost his International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization titles to Donaire in a stunning loss that was labeled by HBO as the ?Upset of the Year? in 2007.
?When you suffer a beat down, it affects the way you fight. It changes the way you fight. Changes the way you think,? Shaw said.
After handing Darchinyan his first loss, Donaire and his father Nonito Sr. trained at the ALA gym for his first title defense and has given Gorres some pointers on how to deal with the Raging Bull.
Important
As to Gorres getting a favorable hometown decision in Feb. 2, Shaw is hoping it wouldn?t be an issue.
?Can Darchinyan win a decision in the Philippines? I would hope so. It (fair decision) is important for the sport of boxing,? he said.
He said the pressure is on Gorres since he is fighting in front of his home fans.
?I don?t like to do a fight on a fighter?s hometown,? said Shaw.
Meanwhile, though their boxers are facing each in the ring, Shaw is all praises for Antonio L. Aldeguer, owner of the famed ALA boxing stable.
Shaw visited Aldeguer?s stable and was impressed with the number of boxers that, aside from training, ?feeds, houses and give allowances to.?
?That?s beyond and above boxing,? said Shaw of Aldeguer?s philanthropic work with boxers. ?I very much would like to work with Tony.?
On the other hand, Cebuano boxing fans can get the chance to see Darchinyan before fight night as The Raging Bull will have a public workout at the ALA Boxing Gym at the Banilad Town Center on Jan. 28.
