"Z Gorres, who is a very good fighter and a great champion, I wish him all the luck in his fight on Saturday night (today)," said De la Hoya in a tele-conference yesterday announcing the tie-up of his promotional outfit Golden Boy Promotions with Cebu's SGG Sports Promotions (see separate story).
Arguably, the flashy Gorres is one of the brightest ring gladiators in the country today, but ironically, he still has to earn the respect and adoration of a few doubting Thomases considering the fact that he has not yet won a major championship belt.
And Gorres felt it's now high time for him to prove his worth and announce to everyone he has what it takes to become a world champion.
"It is every boxer's dream to become a world champion. This is the reason why I will give my all out best to win this OPBF championship because this will be my stepping to accomplish my ultimate goal," said the Mandaue City fighter.
Gorres, who sports a 21-1-1 win-loss-draw record spiked with 22KOs, is riding high on an 11-fight winning streak since absorbing his first and only defeat so far via nine-round stoppage to Edgar Rodrigo that cost him his RP flyweight belt two years ago in Makati City.
In his previous bout last February 4 at the Orleans Resort Casino in Las Vegas, Gorres got the admiration of some US boxing scholars when he relentlessly punished Mexican journeyman Jose Alfredo Tirado en route to a lopsided 10-round shutout.
"This is a very significant fight for me. This is big opportunity for me to become a champion and I won't let it slip out of my hands. I will do whatever it takes for me to come out victorious and make my fellow Cebuanos proud," said the 23-year-old Gorres.
Bruce MacTavish of New Zealand will serve as scoring referee in the Gorres-Chuwatana rumble, while the rest of the judges are Cebuano Salven Lagumbay and Pinit Pyayadsab of Thailand.
Interestingly, Pinit was the referee when Edito "ALA" Villamor, presently the chief trainer of the world-famous ALA Boxing Gym, was knocked out in the eighth round by Thai Ratanapol Sor Vorapin their IBF mini-flyweight title bout on June 27, 1993 in Bangkok.
In the undercards of the blockbuster card assembled by SGG Sports Promotions of international promoter Sammy Gello-ani, WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight champion Czar Amonsot of Tagbilaran City and rising ALA star AJ Banal will take on Thai twins Decho and Dechapol Bankluaygym, respectively.
Three other promising ALA Boys in Rocky Fuentes, Robert Allanic, and Rey Caitom will also strut their wares against separate foes.
The power-hitting Fuentes will tackle Jojo Bardon of Rex "Wakee" Salud Stable for the Philippine flyweight championship, Allanic battles Robert Rubillar of Manila's Elorde Stable, and Caitom collides with Cagayan de Oro City's Joy Adrian.
In the preliminary bouts, AEV Stable mainstays Frank Albia, Nic Banal, and Niñolito Jalnaiz will square off against Joe Galamiton, Rolly Baclayo, and Noel Acasio, all of Cagayan de Oro.
Expected to grace tonight's slambang affair are Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano and his son Jonkie. Garcia will award the championship belt to the winner of the Gorres-Chuwatana tiff, while Jonkie Ouano will do the honor to the victor of the Fuentes-Bardon brawl.