Z “The Dream” Gorres, one of the country’s brightest world prospects, just got the biggest break in his career as he is booked to face WBC mandatory challenger Jose Navarro, who is promoted by Oscar De la Hoya and managed by Lou Dibella, in a 10-round slugfest underneath the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales showdown on March 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
This will be a battle of southpaws between the Cebu-raised Gorres (18-1-1, 10 KO’s) and the Los Angeles-based former Olympian Navarro (21-1, 9 KO’s).
Reportedly, the Gorres-Navarro showdown is an IBF eliminator, although the WBC no. 1-ranked Navarro is already penciled in to face the winner of the Katsushige Kawashima-Masamori Tokuyama WBC fight set on June 27 this year.
American promoter Murad Muhammad, according to Gorres’ co-manager Tony Aldeguer, has informed that the bout is an IBF eliminator. The IBF’s no. 1 and 2 positions in the superfly division are both vacant, with champion Luis Perez ruling the category.
Last January 3, Navarro travelled to Japan to challenge WBC 115-lb champ Katsushige Kawashima but lost on a controversial split decision. The WBC, upon the recommendation of its Board of Governors which reviewed the tape of the fight, immediately ruled that Navarro be given another crack at the title after Kawashima’s defense against ex-champ Tokuyama.
Gorres, now training under Buddy McGirt in Orlando, Florida, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Chaiyong Sakrrerin last December 11 underneath the Manny Pacquiao-Fahsan 3K Battery bout in Manila.
