A purse bid for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) superflyweight title fight between defending champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico and Filipino challenger Z Gorres is set today in Puerto Rico with a starting price of $100,000.
Under WBO rules, the champion?s share of the total bid is 75 percent so Montiel is guaranteed at least $75,000 for staking his crown against Gorres.
Montiel?s manager and lawyer Gary Gittelsohn told The STAR yesterday the fight will likely be scheduled within 90 days of the bidding. He said he is prepared to bring the titleholder wherever the chips fall and welcomed the opportunity of returning to Manila if the city wins the hosting rights.
Gittelsohn, who also manages Filipino-Hawaiian Brian Viloria, said Montiel is ready to face Gorres anywhere.
“This talk about Fernando being scared of Gorres is ridiculous,” said Gittelsohn. “Nothing could be farther from the truth. The fact is Gorres? camp offered Fernando a purse of $50,000 which is unacceptable since it is common knowledge that if we go to a purse bid, his guarantee is at least $75,000.”
Gittelsohn said he respects Gorres? boxing ability but Montiel is a fighter he just won?t beat.
“Fernando is a class above any opponent Gorres has fought,” said Gittelsohn. “There is no doubt in my mind that Montiel will beat Gorres.”
Although Montiel lost to Jhonny Gonzalez in an attempt to wrest the WBO bantamweight crown in his last bout, Gittelsohn said the split decision was disputed.
Montiel, 27, had won six in a row before bowing to Gonzalez in Carson City, California, last May. If Gonzalez lost, Montiel would?ve captured his third world title in as many divisions. He was previously the WBO flyweight champion and now holds the 115-pound crown.
Montiel has a record of 32-2-1, with 24 KOs. His only losses were the split decision to Gonzalez and a majority verdict to Mark (Too Sharp) Johnson in Connecticut three years ago.
One of Montiel?s knockout victims was Filipino Roy Doliguez who was stopped in the second round in Los Mochis. His most convincing victory was a sixth round disposal of Pedro Alcaraz in a WBO superflyweight championship defense in 2002. Two days after the fight, Alcaraz died of head injuries.
It will be Montiel?s third title defense in his second reign as WBO superflyweight titlist.
Gorres, 24, is unbeaten in his last 14 outings and boasts a 24-1-1 record, with 14 KOs. The Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation superflyweight champion is undefeated in three US fights so far. The only stain in his record is a ninth round knockout defeat to Edgar Rodrigo in 2003.
Both Montiel and Gorres know what it?s like to fall on the canvas. Montiel was floored by Johnson, Doliguez and Jose Gonzalez but came back to beat two of the three. Gorres was decked thrice by Rodrigo and once by Eric Barcelona. It is likely their fight will not last the distance.
Gittelsohn said a recent report from Manila that he was fired by Montiel as manager is “incorrect, unchecked, erroneous, unfounded, ridiculous, inflammatory and defamatory.”
Gittelsohn said on the day he was supposedly fired, Montiel?s father sent a birthday cake to his wife Ellen.
“I am Fernando?s lawyer and manager and I still counsel him about his boxing career as I have been doing for years,” he continued. “Fernando?s family plays an important role in his affairs and we have the most cordial and mutually supportive relationship. With regard to Gorres, Fernando recognizes the WBO?s decision to schedule a mandatory defense of the 115-pound title.”
Gittelsohn said the purse bid process is a common practice and a fair way of determining the market value for a championship fight. He said Golden Boy, which represents Gorres, and other interested promoters are expected to participate in the bidding.
