100 cops to secure boxing event today

Almost a hundred personnel from the Cebu City Police Office will be deployed today at the Cebu City Sports Center to secure tonight's staging of the historic world boxing championships that will feature Cebu's top caliber boxers.

City police chief Patrociño Comendador yesterday said the police personnel would only be deployed outside the sports center because the event organizers are providing the security inside the complex.

But still, Comendador said they would have five police personnel manning the police action center that will be put up inside the sports center.

He said part of the policemen's job at the sports center is to supervise the flow of those going inside the building and arrest ticket scalpers.

But the city police director said they couldn't prevent the people from betting during matches. However, he reminded spectators that betting is still illegal and that police would not hesitate to arrest those found involved in such activity.

In an event dubbed as the "Moment of Truth," three of Cebu's best boxers will be put to an acid test tonight when they climb into the ring facing world champion opponents.

Cebuano rising star Z "The Dream" Gorres is in for the fight of his life against the Mexican champion Fernando Montiel for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight championship.

Montiel, holding a record of 32 wins, two losses and one draw with 24 knockouts, promised to knock out the 23-year-old Gorres (26-1-1, with 14 KOs) early in their 12-round war.

The Gorres-Montiel showdown is one of the main features of the multi-million extravaganza bankrolled by SGG Sports Promotions in partnership with Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, Ala Boxing Gym and giant TV network ABS-CBN, which will broadcast the mega fight card.

In the other main attraction, undefeated Boholano ring sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista will take on last-minute replacement Marino Gonzales Jr. for the WBO intercontinental and WBO youth super bantamweight titles.

Bautista, though he hasn't yet seen his opponent who replaced his original Colombian opponent Feider Viloria, said he is not taking Gonzales lightly although he is well-prepared and in good condition for the fight.

Completing the triple-header is Jimrex Jaca, who will challenge Indonesian champion Simson Butar Butar for the WBO Asia-Pacific super featherweight crown.

Comendador said he would go to the venue today not to watch the fight but to supervise his men. - Norvie S. Misa