Even as a focused, Manny Pacquiao entered the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for an eventual, 12th-round knockout of WBA welterweight (147 pounds) titlist, Miguel Cotto, the seven-division champion’s thoughts drifted to hospitalized, fellow Felipino fighter, “Z” Gorres, who lay struggling for his life as a result of injuries suffered in a bout 24 hours earlier.
The 27-year-old Gorres, who, like Pacquiao, is a southpaw, collapsed in the ring after having put the finishing touches on a one-sided, 10-round unanimous decision victory over Luis Melendez at the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel.
Gorres (31-2-2, 17 knockouts) was discovered to have suffered a blood clot in his brain, this after having been discharged from Las Vegas’ University Medical Center and two major surgeries.
Although Gorres is now walking and talking as part of his recovery, he will never fight again.
“It is a miracle that he is okay, but he is a fighter and a friend,” said Pacquiao. “That’s why I want to help him, and we are going to do some sort of event for him in Las Vegas very soon.”
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) spoke to FanHouse on Monday night from Texas, shortly after having landed there in preparation for a Tuesday press conference at The Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium in Arlington, where he will make the first defense of his WBO crown against Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs) of Accra, Ghana, on March 13.
On Wednesday, the press tour will take Pacquiao and Clottey to New York’s Madison Square Garden.
“We’re going to hold a fundraiser for Z Gorres in Las Vegas at the Wynn Hotel, although we haven’t picked a date yet,” said Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser, who arrived in New York with the champion on Sunday night from the Philippines.
“The arrangements will be made through [Top Rank Promoter] Bob Arum’s office, and the money that we’ll be raising will go to his personal account in the Philippines,” said Koncz. “We’ve known Z a long time. Not only is Z Gorres a boxer under Manny Pacquiao Promotions, but he’s a personal friend of Manny’s.”
After the press tour, Pacquiao will begin preparing for Clottey with trainer Freddie Roach at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.
The 32-year-old Clottey will be the largest opponent Pacquiao will have faced. For unlike in his bouts with Cotto and Oscar de La Hoya — whom he fought at catch weights of 145 pounds — Pacquiao will face the muscular challenger at the 147-pound welterweight ceiling.
“He’s going to be a tough opponent. He’s strong, and a good fighter and bigger than me. So I’m training hard for this fight, and we’re going to study him hard,” said Pacquiao. “We’re basically studying for his bullying style. We’ll have enough time to learn and study some techniques that we can use in the fight.”
