AFTER failing his first world title tiff in Cebu City, ALA boy Z “The Dream” Gorres has earned another chance of becoming a world champion, as he faces Puerto Rican Eric Morel for the interim World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown on Nov. 14, in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto war at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
It was reported in several boxing websites that WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel has ordered a bout between WBO ranked No. 3 Gorres and Morel for the interim title because of the delay of the mandatory fight between No.1 contender Morel and champion Fernando Montiel.
Montiel was supposed to defend his title against the 33-year-old Morel in the blockbuster boxing event “Firepower,” however, the Mexican world champion suffered a cut in his last fight against Alejandro Valdez last Sept. 12 in Mexico, which hindered him from seeing action on Nov. 14.
Willing
Although ALA Promotions, who handles Gorres’ boxing career, hasn’t had a confirmation from Top Rank of the Gorres-Morel world championship bout they are more than willing to accept the opportunity to fight for a world title.
“We have given our go signal to Top Rank. We are waiting for the confirmation from Top Rank if the reports are indeed true,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
In Gorres’ first world title bid, he fought against Montiel for the WBO super flyweight strap but lost via a controversial split decision in 2007 in Cebu City.
“It will be a tough fight,” said Aldeguer of Gorres’ upcoming fight.
Record
Morel is a former world champion and is a veteran of 43 battles.
He has a professional boxing slate of 41 victories with 21 knockouts and only two losses in his career against former world champions Lorenzo Parra and Martin Castillo.
The 27-year-old Gorres, who started his training at the ALA Gym for Morel the other day, will be leaving for Los Angeles on Oct 18, along with ALA Gym trainers Edito and Edmund Villamor. He will be training at Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym.
Aside from Gorres and Morel fighting for the interim title, Valcarcel also ordered Montiel to defend his WBO bantamweight title against No.2 contender Gerry Penalosa sometime in December. The winner of both matches will be fighting each other in 2010, the dumping will be declared as the absolute holder of the WBO bantamweight strap.
