IBF and WBO No. 10 superflyweight Z (The Dream) Gorres faces Mexico?s Roberto Carlos Leyva in a 12-round bout at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City tomorrow night but even as he?s not taking the visitor lightly, he can?t keep his mind off a duel with Heriberto Ruiz to avenge ALA stablemate Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista?s loss.
Ruiz scored a unanimous eight-round decision over Bautista in Las Vegas last year, putting to doubt the Bohol hotshot?s legitimacy as a world title contender. It was the Mexican journeyman?s fifth win in his last six bouts and raised his record to 40-7-2, with 23 KOs, since turning pro in 1994.
Gorres can?t wait to make Ruiz pay for subduing Boom Boom. In the way is Leyva, a former IBF minimumweight champion who was unbeaten in his first 22 outings but has lost eight of his last 12. Leyva, 29, is an experienced southpaw who has slugged it out with the likes of ex-world titlists Victor Burgos, Filipino Manny Melchor, Daniel Reyes twice, Ivan Calderon and Miguel Barrera thrice. He?s got experience on his side.
?Gorres has told us to get Ruiz after Leyva to avenge Boom Boom?s loss but this remains to be seen because Boom Boom also wants a rematch and Gorres still has to dispose of Leyva,? said Gorres? manager and ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer.
Gorres, 26, realizes to arrange an appointment with Ruiz, he?s got to repulse Leyva. Ruiz, incidentally, takes on Mauricio Martinez in Ontario on March 20 for the vacant IBF Intercontinental superbantamweight crown and if he prevails, will be challenged by either Gorres or Bautista. Ruiz would like nothing better than to gain the reputation as the ALA stable?s scourge.
While Leyva appears to be on the decline, he remains a dangerous opponent because of his punching power. He has notched 20 knockouts in 25 wins. At 29, Leyva knows a loss to Gorres could mean the end of his career after back-to-back defeats to Benjie Garcia (whom Brian Viloria knocked out last December) and WBC lightflyweight champion Edgar Sosa. A desperate fighter struggling to survive with his back against the wall is like a wounded tiger – which is why against Gorres, Levya will be going for broke as his career is on the line.
Gorres and Leyva will dispute the vacant WBO Oriental bantamweight diadem.
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For Gorres, it?s time to wave the flag and prove he deserves another world title shot. He blew his first bid, bowing to Fernando Montiel via a split decision in Cebu two years ago. Gorres came back to bowl over former WBC lightflyweight champion Eric Ortiz then faded in the late going to hold Vic Darchinyan to a draw after dropping the Australian in the second round early last year. It?s been 10 months since Gorres last saw action, scoring a ho-hum decision over Nick Otieno. To gain a second crack at a world crown, Gorres not only has to be more active but also must show he can hold his own against toughies like Levya and Ruiz.
Ruiz may be in Gorres? gunsight but the big fights out there for the Dream are rematches against Montiel and Darchinyan.
Despite his world ranking, Gorres doesn?t enjoy the popularity of swashbucklers like Bautista and Manny Pacquiao. That?s because of his methodical, almost unexciting, style. Still, Gorres deserves recognition for what he?s achieved so far. The respect will come when he finally wins a world title.
In the companion main event, former IBF minimumweight champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia faces unbeaten Milan Melindo in a battle of experience versus youth. Melindo, 21, was only four years old when Rachman, 37, turned pro in 1993. Rachman has logged 73 fights and Melindo, 17, showing a glaring disparity.
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But Melindo isn?t fazed. He was sensational in halting Juma Fundi last October and drew raves for his clinical approach in dispatching the Tanzanian. Although he has registered only five knockouts, Melindo can?t be considered a power-puff puncher. He?s a thinking fighter who picks his spots. When the opening for a knockout comes, Melindo will take care of business. When it doesn?t, he?ll find another way to win. Although relatively young, Melindo is mature for his age.
Rachman?s manager Martinez dos Santos said his boy isn?t taking any chances against Melindo and will definitely go for a knockout. The Indonesian lost his IBF crown to Florante Condes on a split verdict in Jakarta two years ago and would?ve retained it if not for taking two trips to the canvas. Rachman is itching for redemption at Melindo?s expense.
A sidelight to the Cebu card is former WBO Oriental and Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo?s return from a 10-month layoff due to hepatitis. Domingo, 29, battles Monico Laurente, 24, in a tenner that will tell if he?s recovered from his affliction.
Domingo, once hailed by trainer Freddie Roach as a future world champion, has won his last six bouts, including a six-round decision over previously unbeaten Mexican prospect Miguel Roman and a ninth round stoppage of Ratanachai Sor Vorapin. His record is 37-14-2, with 16 KOs.
Laurente, 24, has an 8-4 mark, with just one KO. He?s coming off a 10-round win over veteran Jun Eraham last November. From all indications, Laurente will be a sacrificial lamb for Domingo.
Ticket prices range from P250 for balcony to P1,500 for VIP first row. A full-house is expected as fans are curious to find out if Leyva has what it takes to frustrate Gorres, if Melindo can outwit Rachman and if Domingo is back for good.
