Both Z ‘The Dream’ Gorres and Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista yesterday congratulated their renowned trainer Freddie Roach for winning the sweepstakes to train Oscar De la Hoya, although the two fighters and their Filipino trainer Ala Villamor downplayed any chances of their training getting affected.
Both Gorres and Bautista are preparing for their big February 24 bouts in Cebu City at the Wild Card Gym of Roach, and are expected to return to the country on February 4.
Gorres will challenge WBO superfly king Fernando Montiel, while Bautista battles Colombian Feider Viloria in the co-feature of the big ‘Moment of Truth’ card at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
“Not to worry,” was how Villamor reacted when Roach told him that he will be training De la Hoya in Puerto Rico.
De la Hoya had earlier announced that his conditioning has already kicked off, although the boxing proper will start only on March 1.
In that scenario, Roach will still have ample time to fly to the Philippines on February 24 to be in the corner of both Gorres and Bautista, as what had been originally planned, before going back to the US and then proceeding to Puerto Rico where he will start training De la Hoya.
However, Villamor said, if indeed Roach is not able to fly to Cebu on February 24 due to his commitments to De la Hoya, he would be more than ready to guide his boys to victory.
BIG ASIAN UPDATES. Plans are now afoot to have WBC flyweight king Pongsaklek Wongjongkam take on the highly-popular Japanese Koki Kameda on March 24 in Japan…WBO Asia-Pacific superfly champ Pramuansak Phosuwan retained his title yesterday over Filipino Ryan Maliteg in Nonthabury, Thailand…Ex-Philippine lightweight champ Fernando Montilla is set to return against Arniel Tinampay on February 13 in Tagaytay City..
