AFTER delivering the world championship fight to Cebu by helping Cebuano promoter Sammy Gello-ani win the WBO purse bid for the Fernando Montiel vs. Z Gorres mandatory championship fight, international matchmaker Sampson Lwekowicz has helped salvage the fight.
Lewkowicz, who also helped give Manny Pacquiao his break in the US, waved his magic wand anew to make Montiel reconsider his earlier decision to pull out of the match and sign the contract for Feb. 24 fight with Gorres at the Cebu City Sports Center.
In a message to Cebu boxing patron Antonio Lopez Aldeuger, Lewkowicz announced Montiel signed the contract yesterday, canceling all doubts the champion was trying to duck the Cebuano phenomenon.
Montiel and his trainer-manager Manuel Montiel Sr. signed on the dotted lines in front of Lewkowicz, who stood in behalf of Gello-ani.
Postponed
?I have received a copy of the contract already,? Gello-ani announced. ?And another copy has been given to WBO president Francisco Valcarcel.?
Montiel earlier threatened to back out from the Feb. 24 fight after he was kept in the dark about the postponement of the World Cup Boxing, originally scheduled March 4.
According to Gello-ani, Montiel was unaware that the World Cup was postponed and that they have to fight according to the original date?Feb. 24.
?Everything is clear now, the Montiel camp has taken the appropriate decision of pushing the fight against Gorres. It shows (that) despite some miscommunications (happening there), they are acting as professional sportsmen who do not shrink from their responsibilities as defending champion,? Gello-ani said.
The main undercard will feature Boholano sensation Rey ?Boom-Boom? Bautista against Feider Viloria of Colombia for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental and WBO Youth super bantamweight titles, while Indonesian Simson Butar-Butar will defend his WBO Asia-Pacific super featherweight title against Jimrex Jaca.
Meanwhile, Gorres and Bautista will arrive back in the Philippines today after spending weeks training at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.
Gorres and Bautista will arrive together with two-time Elorde awardee trainer Edito Villamor. The duo will stay in Manila for two to three days to meet with the Manila press before heading to Cebu City to continue their training under Villamor.
