Z Gorres to battle new foe in tune-up Banal faces acid test vs. Angkota

Reigning OPBF super flyweight champion Z "The Dream" Gorres of Cebu's famed ALA Boxing Club will face a new opponent in his October 20 tune-up fight at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

Gorres was initially set to battle IBF Pan-Pacific champion Hengky Wuwungan of Indonesia, but ALA top honco Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeguer told The Freeman that they had to look for a new foe for Gorres because the Indonesian pulled out of the bout for unknown reasons.

"The card is already final, but we're just waiting for the opponent of Gorres because Wuwungan backed out. The replacement would still be as competitive as Wuwungan because we don't get patsies. We always get tough opponents for our boys," Aldeguer assured.

Aldeguer added the supporting main event is also something to watch out for with ALA rising star AJ "Bazooka" Banal going up against current IBF Pan-Pacific light flyweight champion Angky Angkota, who knocked out Banal's stablemate Rocky Fuentes in just one round two years ago in Jakarta.

Angkota is undoubtedly the toughest obstacle in Banal's budding career as the Indonesian hard-puncher also boasts of victories over prominent Filipino fighters in the likes of ex-WBA minimumweight champion Joma Gamboa, former PABA jr flyweight titlist Marvin Tampus, ALA Boy Donnie Nietes, Isidro Lorona and Sonny Boy Jaro.

However, the Corella, Bohol-native Banal (8-0-1, 7KOs) is confident heading into a showdown with Angkota having flattened Indonesian champion Ali Rochmad in the fifth round last July 22 in Tagbilaran City.

Two months later also in his hometown, Banal forced the previously undefeated Thai Sing Carryboy to throw in the towel before the start of the seventh round.

Gorres (24-1-1, 12KOs), on the other hand, was similarly impressive in his previous bout.

Gorres, presently WBO ranked No.1, IBF No.5 and WBC No.6 jr bantamweight contender, dropped Pedro Rincon Miranda in the first, fifth and 10th rounds on the way to a lopsided 10-round shutout victory last May 27 in Carson City, California.

Gorres must exhaust all possible ways and means to hurdle his forthcoming match as barring any hitches, he is lined up for a shot at the WBO super flyweight belt currently held by Mexican Fernando "Cochulito" Montiel (32-2-1, 24 KOs) before the year ends or in early 2007.