Gorres ready for brawl tonite

Fresh from nearly a four-month toughening stint in the US, superflyweight sensation Z (The Dream) Gorres returns to the ring to face Thai veteran Deeden Kengkarun in a 10-round bout at the San Andres Civic and Sports Center in Malate tonight.

Gorres, 23, is itching to show what he learned from highly-touted trainer James (Buddy) McGirt in hours of sweat sessions in Florida but Kengkarun, the former Pan Asia Boxing Association lightflyweight champion, isn’t likely to play the foil.

Kengkarun, 27, is a grizzled warrior who turned pro in 1995 when Gorres was only 13. He’s as determined as Gorres to score a convincing victory.

At stake is a crack at the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) 115-pound crown. OPBF superflyweight titleholder Masayuki Arinaga will defend the throne against Daisuke Maruyama in Tokyo on Aug. 22 with the survivor to meet the winner of the Gorres-Kengkarun duel.Gorres isn’t making any predictions. He’s also not revealing what he has in mind for Kengkarun. All he’s promising is to give his best and repay his benefactors, businessman Tony Aldeguer and lawyer Rudy Salud, for their confidence. He’s dedicating the fight to the love of his life, Duchess, and their two children Dheydert, 2, and Sheyladhey, 1.

As for a quick ending, Gorres says he won’t consciously go for an early knockout but he’ll make short work of Kengkarun if the opportunity presents itself.

Gorres says he picked up vital pointers in technique from McGirt on defense, footwork and movement. He’ll never forget McGirt’s lesson on how to deliver a punch without exposing yourself to a counterattack. Gorres says McGirt taught him how to bob and weave so he doesn’t absorb the full impact of his opponent’s blows.

Gorres and former World Boxing Council superflyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa were together in McGirt’s camp. Gorres says he also learned a lot from Peñalosa, his idol, in their sparring sessions under McGirt’s supervision.

McGirt’s influence was evident when Gorres made a rousing US debut last March, demolishing Glenn Donaire at 2:03 of the first round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The win raised Gorres’ record to 19-1-1 with 11 KOs.

"I’m ready for anyone," says Gorres in Pilipino. "I’ll fight the world champion right now if that’s what my managers want. I’m in the best shape of my life because I never stop training. My future is in the hands of my managers. I trust them completely. I’ll do what they expect of me."

There is no off day for Gorres as far as conditioning is concerned. He knows a boxer must always be in tip-top shape, seven days a week, 24 hours a day–with or without a fight schedule. Gorres’ uncompromising work ethic is his secret to success.

Gorres will be paid P120,000 for tonight’s fight while Kengkarun will earn $1,500.

Recalling his lone defeat to Edgar Rodrigo two years ago, Gorres says he won’t make the same mistake again. Manny Pacquiao rebounded from a similar tragedy early in his career to win three world titles. Gorres says he hopes to follow in Pacquiao’s footsteps.

Gorres says he nursed a fever three days before the Rodrigo fight and was physically drained in making the flyweight limit. As it turned out, Gorres was floored thrice and stopped in the ninth round.

Since the loss, Gorres hasn’t looked back. He showed a big heart in recovering from a knockdown to outpoint Eric Barcelona and guts in venturing to Korea to stop Yun Chul Yuh. Then, in the "Yanig Sa Taguig" card last December, Gorres was impressive in pounding out a unanimous decision over durable Chaiyong Sakkreerin.

One of five children, Gorres’ first name ZC is a combination of his parents’ initials. His father Celestino is a jeepney driver and mother Zeta, a housewife. He eventually dropped the letter ‘C’ and kept ‘Z’ as his ring name. His older brother Jun was once a world-rated superfeatherweight and is now retired. His three sisters are married. Gorres figured in over 100 amateur bouts and took golds at the National Youth Open in Bago City in 1999, the Palarong Pambansa in Bacolod in 2000 and the Palaro Ng Bayan in General Santos City, also in 2000. He turned pro in March 2001.

Kengkarun has compiled a 22-10-2 record with 13 KOs. Tonight won’t be his first Manila outing. In two previous bouts here, the Thai lost decisions to Ronnie Magramo in 1997 and Rolly Lunas two years ago. He’s coming off a third round stoppage of Samart Petchbandung in Nonthaburi only a few weeks back.